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Harliku (Nitisinone Tablets): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

Harliku

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 7/11/2025

Drug Summary

What Is Harliku?

Harliku (nitisinone) is a hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor indicated for the reduction of urine homogentisic acid (HGA) in adult patients with alkaptonuria (AKU).

What Are Side Effects of Harliku?

Side effects of Harliku include:

  • elevated tyrosine levels,
  • eye irritation, eye pain and sensitivity to light due to inflammation of the cornea (keratitis), and
  • low platelets (thrombocytopenia).

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision,tunnel vision,eye painor swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache,confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for Harliku

The recommended dosage of Harliku is 2 mg administered orally, once daily.

Harliku In Children

The safety and effectiveness of Harliku have not been established in pediatric patients with AKU.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with Harliku?

Harliku may interact with other medicines such as:

  • sensitive CYP2C9 substrates and
  • OAT1/OAT3 substrates.

Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Harliku During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using Harliku; it is unknown if it would affect a fetus. It is unknown if Harliku passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our Harliku (nitisinone) Tablets, for Oral Use Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Description for Harliku

HARLIKU (nitisinone) is a hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase inhibitor.

Nitisinone occurs as a white to yellowish-white, crystalline powder. It is practically insoluble in water, soluble in 2M sodium hydroxide and in methanol, and sparingly soluble in alcohol.

The chemical name of nitisinone is 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl) cyclohexane-1,3-dione. The molecular formula is C14H10F3NO5 and the molecular weight is 329.23. The structural formula is:

HARLIKU (nitisinone)

Each HARLIKU (nitisinone) tablet contains 2 mg of nitisinone to be administered orally. The inactive ingredients are glyceryl dibehenate and lactose monohydrate.

Uses for Harliku

HARLIKU is indicated for the reduction of urine homogentisic acid (HGA) in adult patients with alkaptonuria (AKU).

Dosage for Harliku

Recommended Dosage

The recommended dosage of HARLIKU is 2 mg administered orally, once daily.

Administer HARLIKU with or without food [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].

Maintain dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine when administering NITYR.

Maintenance Dosage

The recommended maintenance dosage of NITYR in patients 5 years of age and older who have undetectable serum and urine succinylacetone concentrations after a minimum of 4 weeks on a stable dosage of nitisinone, is 1 to 2 mg/kg once daily [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2)].

A maximum total daily dosage of 2 mg/kg may be needed based on the evaluation of all biochemical parameters.

Missed Dose

If a dose of HARLIKU is missed, do not administer two doses at once to make up for a missed dose. Take the next dose at the scheduled time.

HOW SUPPLIED

DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS

Tablets: 2 mg white to beige, round, flat tablets, which may display light yellow to brown speckles, debossed with “2” mg on one side and “L” on the other side.

How Supplied

HARLIKU (nitisinone) tablet is white to beige, round, flat which may display light yellow to brown speckles, debossed with the “strength” in mg on one side and “L” on the other side. Each tablet contains 2 mg nitisinone. HARLIKU is supplied in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) square bottle with a child-resistant tamper-evident polypropylene (PP) screw cap. Each bottle contains 60 tablets. 2 mg tablets: NDC 70709-112-60

NITYR is supplied in a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) square bottle with a child-resistant tamper-evident polypropylene (PP) screw cap. Each bottle contains 60 tablets.

2 mg tablets: NDC 70709-002-60

5 mg tablets: NDC 70709-005-60

10 mg tablets: NDC 70709-000-60

Storage And Handling

Store HARLIKU tablets at room temperature between 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

Pharmacist: Dispense in tight and light resistant container as defined in USP.

Manufactured by: PCI Pharma Services 23-24 Tafarnaubach Industrial Estate Tredegar, Gwent NP22 3AA, United Kingdom
Rivopharm SA Centro Insema 6928 Manno, Switzerland

Marketed by: Cycle Pharmaceuticals Ltd The Broers Building 21 JJ Thomson Ave Cambridge, CB3 0FA, United Kingdom

Warnings for Harliku

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

Precautions for Harliku

Ocular Symptoms, Developmental Delay and Hyperkeratotic Plaques Due to Elevated Plasma Tyrosine Levels

Treatment with NITYR may cause elevated plasma tyrosine levels in patients with HT-1. Inadequate restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine intake can lead to elevations in plasma tyrosine levels and levels greater than 500 micromol/L may lead to the following:

  • Ocular signs and symptoms including corneal ulcers, corneal opacities, keratitis, conjunctivitis, eye pain, and photophobia. All of which have been reported in patients treated with nitisinone [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. In a clinical study in a non HT-1 population without dietary restriction and reported tyrosine levels > 500 micromol/L both symptomatic and asymptomatic keratopathies have been observed. Therefore, perform a baseline ophthalmologic examination including slit-lamp examination prior to initiating NITYR treatment and regularly thereafter. Patients who develop photophobia, eye pain, or signs of inflammation such as redness, swelling, or burning of the eyes or tyrosine levels are > 500 micromol/L during treatment with NITYR should undergo slit-lamp reexamination and immediate measurement of the plasma tyrosine concentration.
  • Variable degrees of intellectual disability and developmental delay. In patients treated with NITYR who exhibit an abrupt change in neurologic status, perform a clinical laboratory assessment including plasma tyrosine levels.
  • Painful hyperkeratotic plaques on the soles and palms.

Maintain concomitant reduction in dietary tyrosine and phenylalanine while on NITYR treatment. In patients with HT-1 who are treated with NITYR and dietary restriction and develop elevated plasma tyrosine levels, assess dietary tyrosine and phenylalanine intake. Do not adjust NITYR dosage in order to lower the plasma tyrosine concentration. Maintain plasma tyrosine levels below 500 micromol/L.

Leukopenia and Severe Thrombocytopenia

In clinical trials, patients treated with another oral formulation of nitisinone and dietary restriction developed reversible leukopenia (3%), thrombocytopenia (3%), or both (1.5%) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)]. No patients developed infections or bleeding as a result of the episodes of leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. Monitor platelet and white blood cell counts during NITYR therapy.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

The carcinogenic potential of nitisinone was assessed in a 26-week oral (gavage) carcinogenicity study in Tg.rasH2 mice. There were no drug-related neoplastic findings in male or female Tg.rasH2 mice at doses up to 100 mg/kg/day nitisinone (approximately 243 times the maximum recommended human daily dose of 2 mg/day).

Nitisinone was not genotoxic in the Ames test and the in vivo mouse liver unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) test. Nitisinone was mutagenic in the mouse lymphoma cell (L5178Y/TK+/-) forward mutation test and in an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus test.

Overdose Information for Harliku

No information provided

Contraindications for Harliku

No information provided

Clinical Pharmacology for Harliku

Mechanism Of Action

Nitisinone is a competitive inhibitor of hydroxyphenyl-pyruvate dioxygenase, an enzyme upstream of homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD) in the tyrosine catabolic pathway.

Pharmacodynamics

In patients with AKU, HGA accumulates in various tissues and urine. In an open-label, single center, randomized, no-treatment controlled trial nitisinone treatment resulted in reduction of urinary HGA concentrations in patients with AKU [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Nitisinone exposure-response relationship and time course of pharmacodynamic response for the effectiveness have not been fully characterized.

Nitisinone inhibits catabolism of the amino acid tyrosine and can result in elevated plasma levels of tyrosine in patients with AKU. Treatment with nitisinone does not require routine dietary restriction in patients with AKU; however, patients who develop keratopathies should be monitored and dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine should be implemented [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Pharmacokinetics

The single-dose pharmacokinetics of nitisinone tablets have been studied in healthy adult subjects. Nitisinone pharmacokinetic parameters are presented as geometric mean [range] unless otherwise specified. Nitisinone maximum concentration (Cmax) and area under the curve from time 0 to 120 hours (AUC0-120h) were 1278 [780 to 1649] ng/mL and 77874 [42335 to 104211] ng•h/mL following oral administration of 10 mg (5 times the recommended dosage) nitisinone under fasting conditions.

Absorption

Nitisinone time to Cmax (Tmax) is 3.5 hours (median, ranging from 1 to 4 hours) following single oral administration of 10 mg (5 times the recommended dosage) nitisinone under fasting conditions.

Effect of Food: In a food effect study, a high-fat and high-calorie breakfast (973.6 cal distributed in carbohydrate 250.1 cal, proteins 157 cal, fat 566.5 cal) did not significantly affect the total exposure (AUC0-120h) and Cmax of nitisinone following single oral administration of 10 mg NITYR. The median Tmax was delayed to 6 hours under fed conditions [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Distribution

The arithmetic mean (SD) apparent volume of distribution of nitisinone is 8.2 (1.6) L in healthy subjects (n=23).

In vitro binding of nitisinone to human plasma proteins is greater than 95% at 50 micromolar concentration.

Elimination

The arithmetic mean (SD) terminal half-life of nitisinone is 59.3 (8.9) hours in healthy subjects (n=23). The mean (CV%) apparent plasma clearance in 18 healthy adults following multiple once daily doses of nitisinone Reference ID: 5604690 80 mg (40 times the recommended dosage) is 113 (16) mL/hr. The mean of the fraction of dose excreted renally as unchanged nitisinone in the urine (fe(%)) was 3% (n=3) following multiple oral doses of 80 mg (40 times the recommended dosage) daily in healthy subjects.

Metabolism
In vitro
studies have shown that nitisinone is relatively stable in human liver microsomes with minor metabolism possibly mediated by CYP3A4 enzyme.

Excretion
The estimated mean (CV%) renal clearance of nitisinone was 0.003 L/h (25%).

Drug Interaction Studies
Clinical Studies
Nitisinone does not inhibit CYP2D6. Nitisinone is a moderate inhibitor of CYP2C9 and a weak inducer of CYP2E1 (TABLE 2). Nitisinone is an inhibitor of OAT1/3 (TABLE 2).

TABLE 2. Percent Change in AUC0-inf and Cmax for Co-administered Drugs in the Presence of Nitisinone in 18 Healthy Subjects

Co-administered Drug a Dose of Coadministered Drug (Route of Administration)
Effect of Nitisinone on the Pharmacokinetics of Co-administered Drug b
AUC0-inf Cmax
CYP2C9 Substrate Tolbutamide c 500 mg (oral) 131% ↑ 16% ↑
CYP2E1 Substrate Chlorzoxazone 500 mg (oral) 27% ↑ 18% ↑
OAT1/3 Substrate Furosemide 20 mg (intravenous) 72% ↑ 12% ↑

↑ = Increased; ↓ = Decreased
a The interacting drug was administered alone on Day 1 and together with nitisinone on Day 17.
b Multiple doses of 80 mg nitisinone (40 times the recommended dosage) were administered daily alone from Day 3 to Day 16.
c 16 subjects in Period 2 received nitisinone and tolbutamide while 18 subjects in Period 1 received nitisinone alone.

In Vitro Studies
CYP450 Enzymes: Nitisinone does not inhibit CYP1A2, 2C19, or 3A4. Nitisinone does not induce CYP1A2, 2B6 or 3A4/5.

Transporter Systems: Nitisinone does not inhibit P-gp, BCRP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3 and OCT2.

Patient Information for Harliku

Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Instructions for Use).

Dosage and Administration Instructions

Advise the patient or caregiver to:

  • Combine NITYR with dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine.
  • Take NITYR with or without food.
  • Disintegrate the tablet(s) in water if patient has difficulty swallowing intact tablet(s), or if patient can swallow semi-solid foods, crush the tablet(s) and mix with applesauce.
[see Dosage and Administration (2)]

How Supplied/Storage and Handling

Advise the patient or caregiver to store NITYR in the container that it is dispensed in and keep the container tightly closed [see How Supplied/Storage and Handling (16)].

Ocular Symptoms, Developmental Delay and Hyperkeratotic Plaques Due to Elevated Plasma Tyrosine Levels

Advise the patient or caregiver that inadequate dietary restriction may be associated with ocular signs and symptoms, intellectual disability and developmental delay, and painful hyperkeratotic plaques on the soles and palms. Additionally, advise the patient or caregiver of the need to maintain dietary restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine and to report any unexplained ocular, neurologic, or other symptoms promptly to their healthcare provider [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

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