OMNARIS^® Nasal Spray

MIMS Revision Date: 01 November 2025

1 Name of Medicine

Ciclesonide.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Omnaris Nasal Spray is a metered-dose, manual-pump spray. Once primed (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration), each actuation of the pump delivers 50 microgram ciclesonide in a volume of 70 microL from the nasal actuator.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Nasal spray presented as a white to off-white suspension in brown glass bottle with a pump.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Omnaris Nasal Spray is indicated for:
the treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children 6 years of age and older;
the treatment of perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older.

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Omnaris should only be administered by the intranasal route.
Dosage consideration. The recommended dose of Omnaris is 200 microgram per day administered as 2 actuations (50 microgram/actuation) in each nostril once daily.
The maximum total daily dosage should not exceed 2 actuations in each nostril (200 microgram/day).
Administration. Prior to initial use, Omnaris must be shaken gently and then the pump must be primed by actuating 8 times. If not used for 4 or more consecutive days, it should be shaken gently and reprimed with 1 actuation or until a fine mist appears.
During dosing, users are advised to tilt the head forward slightly and, while keeping the bottle upright, users are advised to press the pump quickly and firmly and inhale through the nose as they spray.

4.3 Contraindications

Patients with a hypersensitivity to ciclesonide or any of its ingredients.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Immunosuppression and risk of infection. Rarely, immediate hypersensitivity reactions or contact dermatitis may occur after the administration of intranasal corticosteroids. Patients with a known hypersensitivity reaction to other corticosteroid preparations should use caution when using ciclesonide nasal spray since cross reactivity to other corticosteroids including ciclesonide may also occur. Patients who are using drugs that suppress the immune system are more susceptible to infections than healthy individuals. Chickenpox and measles, for example, can have a more serious or even fatal course in susceptible children or adults using corticosteroids. In children or adults who have not had these diseases or have not been properly immunised, particular care should be taken to avoid exposure. How the dose, route, and duration of corticosteroid administration affect the risk of developing a disseminated infection is not known. The contribution of the underlying disease and/or prior corticosteroid treatment to the risk is also not known. If exposed to chickenpox, prophylaxis with varicella zoster immune globulin (VZIG) may be indicated. If exposed to measles, prophylaxis with pooled intramuscular immunoglobulin (IG) may be indicated. If chickenpox develops, treatment with antiviral agents may be considered.
Local effects. Epistaxis and rare instances of nasal septum perforation have been reported following the intranasal application of corticosteroids.
Because of the inhibitory effect of corticosteroids on wound healing, patients who have experienced recent nasal septal ulcers, nasal surgery, or nasal trauma should not use a nasal corticosteroid until healing has occurred.
Respiratory. Rare instances of wheezing have been reported following the intranasal application of corticosteroids.
Infection. In clinical studies with corticosteroids administered intranasally, the development of localised infections of the nose and pharynx with Candida albicans have been reported only rarely. When such an infection develops, it may require treatment with appropriate local therapy and discontinuation of treatment with the intranasal corticosteroid. Therefore, patients using intranasal corticosteroids over several months or longer should be examined periodically for evidence of Candida infection or other signs of adverse effects on the nasal mucosa.
Corticosteroid should be used with caution, if at all, in patients with active or quiescent tuberculosis infections of the respiratory tract; or in patients with untreated local or systemic fungal or bacterial infections; systemic viral or parasitic infections; or ocular herpes simplex because of the potential for worsening of these infections.
Systemic effects. Although systemic effects have been minimal with recommended doses of Omnaris, any such effect is likely to be dose dependent. Therefore, larger than recommended doses of Omnaris should be avoided. If recommended doses of intranasal corticosteroids are exceeded or if individuals are particularly sensitive or predisposed by virtue of recent systemic steroid therapy, symptoms of hypercorticism may occur, including very rare cases of menstrual irregularities, acneiform lesions, and cushingoid features. If such changes occur, topical corticosteroids should be discontinued slowly, consistent with accepted procedures for discontinuing oral steroid therapy.
Visual disturbance. Visual disturbance may be reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use. Rare instances of cataracts, glaucoma, and increased intraocular pressure have been reported following the intranasal application of corticosteroids. If a patient presents with symptoms such as blurred vision or other visual disturbances, the patient should be considered for referral to an ophthalmologist for evaluation of possible causes which may include cataract, glaucoma or rare diseases such as central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) which have been reported after use of systemic and topical corticosteroids.
The risk of glaucoma was evaluated by assessments of intraocular pressure in 3 studies including 943 patients. Of these, 390 adolescents or adults were treated for up to 52 weeks and 186 children ages 2 to 11 received treatment with ciclesonide 200 microgram daily for up to 12 weeks. In these trials, no significant differences in intraocular pressure changes were observed between ciclesonide- and placebo-treated patients. Additionally, no significant differences between the two patient groups were noted during the 52-week study of adults and adolescent patients in whom thorough ophthalmologic assessments were performed including evaluation of cataract formation using slit lamp examinations.
Growth. Intranasal corticosteroids may cause a reduction in growth velocity when administered to paediatric patients. Physicians should closely follow the growth of children and adolescents taking corticosteroids by any route (see Paediatric use).
Systemic steroid replacement by a topical steroid. The replacement of a systemic corticosteroid with a topical corticosteroid can be accompanied by signs of adrenal insufficiency. In addition, some patients may experience symptoms of corticosteroid withdrawal, e.g. joint and/or muscular pain, lassitude, and depression. Patients previously treated for prolonged periods with systemic corticosteroids and transferred to topical corticosteroids should be carefully monitored for acute adrenal insufficiency in response to stress. In those patients who have asthma or other clinical conditions requiring long-term systemic corticosteroid treatment, rapid decreases in systemic corticosteroid dosages may cause a severe exacerbation of their symptoms.
Use in the elderly. A total of 31 patients above 65 years of age (age range 65 to 75 years) have been treated with Omnaris 200 microgram/day for up to one year. The adverse reactions reported in this population were similar in type and incidence to those reported by younger patients, but greater sensitivity of some older individuals cannot be ruled out.
Paediatric use. The efficacy of Omnaris in children 6 years of age and older for the treatment of the symptoms of allergic rhinitis is supported by evidence from four adequate and well-controlled studies in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis and one study in patients 6 to 11 years of age with seasonal allergic rhinitis (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials). The efficacy of Omnaris in children under 5 years of age has not been established. The safety of Omnaris in children 2 to 11 years of age was evaluated in four controlled clinical studies of 2 to 12 weeks duration (see Section 5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties, Clinical trials). The growth of paediatric patients receiving intranasal corticosteroids, including Omnaris, should be monitored routinely (e.g. via stadiometry). The potential growth effects of prolonged treatment should be weighed against clinical benefits obtained and the availability of safe and effective noncorticosteroid treatment alternatives. To minimise the systemic effects of intranasal corticosteroids, each patient should be titrated to the lowest dose that effectively controls his/her symptoms (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use, Systemic effects; Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)).
Effects on laboratory tests. Interactions with laboratory tests have not been established. Drug-laboratory interactions are unlikely for intranasal corticosteroids.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

Based on in vitro studies in human liver microsomes and hepatocytes, des-ciclesonide is not an inhibitor of cytochrome (CYP) isoenzymes 1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1 or 3A4 at therapeutic concentrations, and ciclesonide is not an inducer of CYP1A2, 2C9, 2C19 or 3A4. The inhibitory potential of ciclesonide on CYP450 isoenzymes has not been studied. In vitro studies demonstrated that the plasma protein binding of des-ciclesonide was not affected by warfarin or salicylic acid, indicating that protein binding-based drug interactions are unlikely.
In vitro data indicate that CYP 3A4 is the major enzyme involved in the metabolism of the active metabolite, des-ciclesonide, in man. A drug interaction study with orally inhaled ciclesonide and oral erythromycin, a substrate and weak inhibitor of CYP 3A4, had no relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of either des-ciclesonide or erythromycin. In another drug interaction study at steady state with orally inhaled ciclesonide and oral ketoconazole, a potent CYP 3A4 inhibitor, the exposure (AUC) of des-ciclesonide increased by approximately 3.5-fold, while levels of ciclesonide remained unchanged.
The serum levels of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide are negligible following administration of ciclesonide nasal spray. Therefore, the potential for clinically relevant drug-drug interactions is very low. However, co-administration with potent inhibitors of the CYP 3A4 (e.g. protease inhibitors for the treatment of HIV infections) should be considered with caution because there might be an increase in systemic drug levels of des-ciclesonide.
Concomitant treatment with ketoconazole or other potent CYP 3A4 inhibitors should be avoided unless the benefit outweighs this increased risk of systemic side effects of corticosteroids.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility. No evidence of impairment of fertility was observed in a reproductive study conducted in male and female rats both dosed orally with ciclesonide at up to 900 microgram/kg/day (approximately 41 times the maximum human daily intranasal dose in adults based on microgram/m² body surface area in a 50 kg adult).
Use in pregnancy. (Category B3)
No adverse effects on embryofoetal development were observed in rats treated with ciclesonide at oral doses up to 900 microgram/kg/day (41 times the maximum human daily intranasal dose in adults on a body surface area basis) during the period of organogenesis. In a study in rats in which this dose was administered throughout gestation and lactation, pup birth weight and postnatal bodyweight gain were reduced; this occurred in the context of maternotoxicity. In rabbits, adverse effects on embryofoetal development occurred at subcutaneous doses ≥ 5 microgram/kg/day (0.6 times the maximum adult human dose based on body surface area), and comprised cleft palate, fore and/or hind leg flexure, enlarged fontanelle, incomplete ossification of skull bones, parchment-like skin and decreased foetal weight. Ciclesonide increased foetal loss in the rabbit with subcutaneous administration at doses ≥ 100 microgram/kg/day (11 times the maximum adult human dose based on body surface area).
There are no adequate and well controlled studies with Omnaris in pregnant women. As with other corticosteroids, ciclesonide should only be used during pregnancy when the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the mother, foetus or infant. Infants born to mothers who received corticosteroids during pregnancy should be observed carefully for hypoadrenalism.
Use in lactation. It is unknown if ciclesonide is excreted in human milk. There was limited excretion of ciclesonide and/or its metabolites in to milk in lactating rats after intravenous or oral administration. Oral administration of ciclesonide to rats from early pregnancy until weaning was associated with reduced bodyweight in pups (see Use in pregnancy - Category B3). As with other corticosteroids, Omnaris should only be used in nursing women when the potential benefit to the mother justifies the potential risk to the mother and/or infant.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

The effects of this medicine on a person's ability to drive and use machines were not assessed as part of its registration.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

Clinical trials experience. In controlled clinical studies with patients receiving ciclesonide aqueous nasal spray, the overall incidence of adverse events for patients treated with ciclesonide aqueous nasal spray was comparable to that in patients treated with placebo. Adverse reactions reported at an incidence of 1% or greater and more commonly reported in ciclesonide aqueous nasal spray versus placebo were as follows:
Nervous system disorders. Headache.
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders. Nasopharyngitis, epistaxis, sinusitis.
Adult and adolescent patients aged 12 years and older. In controlled clinical studies, a total of 1524 patients ages 12 years and older received treatment with ciclesonide administered intranasally. In studies of 2 to 6 weeks duration in patients 12 years and older, 546 patients were treated with Omnaris 200 microgram daily, and in a study of up to one year in duration, 441 patients were treated with Omnaris 200 microgram daily. The overall incidence of adverse events for patients treated with Omnaris was comparable to that in patients treated with placebo. Adverse events did not differ appreciably based on age, gender, or race. Approximately 2% of patients treated with Omnaris in clinical trials discontinued because of adverse events; this rate was similar for patients treated with placebo. Table 1 displays adverse events, irrespective of drug relationship, that occurred with an incidence of 2% or greater and more frequently with Omnaris than with placebo in clinical trials of 2 to 6 weeks in duration.

In a 52-week long-term safety trial that included 663 adults and adolescent patients (441 treated with ciclesonide: 227 males and 436 females) with perennial allergic rhinitis, the adverse event profile over the treatment period was similar to the adverse event profile in trials of shorter duration. Adverse events considered likely or definitely related to Omnaris that were reported at an incidence of 1% or greater of patients and more commonly in Omnaris versus placebo were epistaxis, nasal discomfort, headache, cough, bronchitis, influenza, back pain, and urinary tract infection. No patient experienced a nasal septal perforation or nasal ulcer during long-term use of Omnaris nor was there any evidence of HPA-axis suppression in this study.
Less common adverse reactions reported in controlled clinical trials 2 to 52 weeks in duration in patients 12 years of age and older with seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis were:
Gastrointestinal disorders. Dry mouth (0.2%), dyspepsia (0.2%).
Infections and infestations. Candidiasis (0.2%), rhinitis (0.2%).
Investigations. Laboratory test abnormal NOS (0.2%), white blood cell count increased (0.3%).
Nervous system disorders. Dysgeusia (0.2%).
Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders. Nasal dryness (0.4%), pharyngolaryngeal pain (0.4%), rhinorrhoea* (0.3%), nasal septum disorder (0.2%), throat irritation* (0.2%).
* Occurred at rates ≤ placebo.
Paediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years. Two controlled clinical studies 2 and 12 weeks in duration were conducted in a total of 1282 patients with allergic rhinitis ages 6 to 11 years, of which 913 were treated with Omnaris 200 microgram, 100 microgram or 25 microgram daily. The overall incidence of adverse events for patients treated with Omnaris was comparable to that in patients treated with placebo. Adverse events did not differ appreciably based on age, gender, or race. In clinical trials, 1.6% and 2.7% of patients treated with Omnaris 200 microgram or 100 microgram, respectively, discontinued because of adverse events; these rates were lower than the rate in patients treated with placebo (2.8%). Table 2 displays adverse events, irrespective of drug relationship, that occurred with an incidence of 3% or greater and more frequently with Omnaris 200 microgram than with placebo.
The effect of orally inhaled ciclesonide (Alvesco) on growth in 609 children aged 5 to 9 years was investigated in a placebo controlled multi-centre, double-blind, randomised parallel-group study of 12 months duration. In the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) analysis, the mean growth velocities observed during the double-blind treatment period were 5.76 cm/year in the placebo group, 5.75 cm/year in the 40 microgram ciclesonide group, and 5.60 cm/year in the 160 microgram ciclesonide group. It can be concluded that doses of ciclesonide administered at 40 microgram or 160 microgram once daily were non-inferior to placebo with respect to growth velocity. In addition, no significant difference was observed between ciclesonide and placebo as measured by 24 hour urinary free cortisol in 292 patients who were studied for HPA axis function.
These effects described above were observed with ciclesonide administered as a metered dose inhaler utilising a different formulation and at different dosages to Omnaris.
Post-marketing experience. Hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema, loss of consciousness, nasal oedema, dyspnoea, and nasal septum perforation have been reported in association with post-market use of Omnaris. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size and are not always confirmed with a health care professional, it is not possible to reliably estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Eye disorders, such as blurred vision with frequency unknown, have been reported with systemic and topical corticosteroid use (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use, Systemic effects).
Reporting suspected adverse effects. Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

There are no data available on the effects of acute or chronic overdosage with Omnaris. Because of low systemic bioavailability, acute overdosage is unlikely to require any therapy other than observation. A single oral dose of up to 10 mg of ciclesonide in healthy volunteers was well tolerated and serum cortisol levels were virtually unchanged in comparison with placebo treatment. Chronic overdosage with any corticosteroid may result in signs or symptoms of hypercorticism.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre on 131126 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action. Ciclesonide is a pro-drug that is enzymatically hydrolysed to a pharmacologically active metabolite, C21-desisobutyryl-ciclesonide (des-ciclesonide) following intranasal application. Des-ciclesonide has anti-inflammatory activity with affinity for the glucocorticoid receptor that is 120 times higher than the parent compound.
The precise mechanism through which ciclesonide affects allergic rhinitis symptoms is not known. Corticosteroids have been shown to have a wide range of effects on multiple cell types (e.g. mast cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes) and mediators (e.g. histamine, eicosanoids, leukotrienes, and cytokines) involved in allergic inflammation.
The anti-inflammatory properties of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide were shown in several in vitro and in vivo investigations, including experiments using a guinea pig model of allergic rhinitis and several investigations in primary human nasal epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial and smooth muscle cells.
Pharmacodynamics. In a study of 40 healthy adult volunteers and 8 asymptomatic seasonal allergic rhinitis patients, no significant differences between the active and placebo groups were observed in 24-hour plasma or urine cortisol after administration of 50-800 microgram daily of ciclesonide for 14 days. In a 1-year safety study including 174 patients treated with ciclesonide 200 microgram once daily and 92 patients treated with placebo who had cortisol assessments, no significant differences in morning plasma and 24 hour urine cortisol levels were observed with ciclesonide versus placebo treatment.
In two studies conducted in children with perennial allergic rhinitis, daily doses of 200 microgram, 100 microgram, and 25 microgram of ciclesonide were compared to placebo nasal spray. The ciclesonide-treated groups had a numerically greater decline in 24 hour urinary free cortisol compared to the placebo group. In the 12 week study in children 6-11 years of age, the difference (and 95% confidence intervals) from placebo in the mean change from baseline to 12 weeks was -0.81 (-4.0, 2.4) microgram/day for the 200 microgram dose group. The mean morning plasma cortisol value did not show any consistent treatment effect. In the 6 week study in children 2-5 years of age, the difference (and 95% confidence intervals) from placebo in the mean change from baseline to 6 weeks was -2.04 (-4.4, 0.3) microgram/day for the 200 microgram dose groups. The plasma cortisol decreased numerically after treatment with ciclesonide with the difference (and 95% confidence intervals) from placebo in the mean change in plasma cortisol from baseline to 6 weeks being -1.04 (-2.7, 0.7) microgram/dL for the 200 microgram dose group. In the studies, serum was assayed for ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties, Absorption).
Clinical trials. Seasonal allergic rhinitis and perennial allergic rhinitis. Adult and adolescent patients aged 12 years and older. The efficacy and safety of Omnaris were evaluated in 4 randomised, double-blind, parallel group, multi-centre, placebo controlled clinical trials of 2 weeks to 1 year in duration conducted in adults and adolescents with allergic rhinitis. Three of these trials were 2 to 6 weeks in duration and primarily designed to assess efficacy. One of these trials was 1 year in duration and primarily designed to assess safety. The three trials of 2 to 6 weeks duration included a total of 1524 patients (495 males and 1029 females) of whom 79 were adolescents, ages 12 to 17 years. Of the 1524 patients, 546 patients received Omnaris 200 microgram once daily. Patients enrolled in the studies were 12 to 86 years of age with a history of seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis, a positive skin test to at least one relevant allergen, and active symptoms of allergic rhinitis at study entry. Assessment of efficacy in these trials was based on patient recording of four nasal symptoms (runny nose, nasal itching, sneezing, and nasal congestion) on a 0-3 categorical severity scale (0 = absent, 1 = mild, 2 = moderate, and 3 = severe) as reflective or instantaneous scores. Reflective scoring required the patients to record symptom severity over the previous 12 hours; the instantaneous scoring required patients to record symptom severity at the time of recording. The results of these trials showed that patients treated with Omnaris 200 microgram once daily exhibited statistically significantly greater decreases in total nasal symptom scores than placebo treated patients. Secondary measures of efficacy were generally supportive.
In the 2-week dose-ranging trial that evaluated efficacy of Omnaris in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis, the primary efficacy endpoint was the difference from placebo in the change from baseline of the sum of morning and evening reflective total nasal symptom score averaged over the 2-week treatment period. In this trial Omnaris 200 microgram once daily was statistically significantly different from placebo.
In the 4-week single dose level trial conducted in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis and the 6 week single dose level trial conducted in patients with perennial allergic rhinitis, the primary efficacy endpoints were the difference from placebo in the change from baseline of the average of morning and evening reflective total nasal symptom score averaged over the first 2 weeks of treatment and over the 6 weeks of treatment, respectively. In these trials, Omnaris 200 microgram once daily was statistically significantly different from placebo. Statistically significant differences in the morning pre-dose instantaneous total nasal symptom score indicate that the effect was maintained over the full 24 hour dosing interval.
Results of the primary efficacy endpoint in these trials are shown in Table 3.

The long-term effectiveness of Omnaris was demonstrated in a 52-week safety study. Over the full course of the study (days 2-365), the mean decrease in 24-hour reflective total nasal symptom score from baseline was greater in the treatment group versus placebo (p < 0.001) with no evidence of tachyphylaxis.
Onset of action was evaluated in two environmental exposure unit studies with a single dose of Omnaris 200 microgram. Results from these two studies did not demonstrate a replicate onset of action within the assessment period. Onset of action was also evaluated in the 4-week seasonal allergic rhinitis and in the 6-week perennial allergic rhinitis trial by frequent recording of instantaneous symptom score after the first dose. In these trials, onset of effect was seen within 24 to 48 hours with further symptomatic improvement observed over 1 to 2 weeks in seasonal allergic rhinitis and 5 weeks in perennial allergic rhinitis.
Paediatric patients aged 6 to 11 years. The efficacy of Omnaris was evaluated in 618 children aged 6 to 11 years old with seasonal allergic rhinitis in a randomised, double-blind, parallel group, multi-centre, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The 2-week trial conducted in patients compared the efficacy of ciclesonide 200 microgram and 100 microgram once daily nasal spray. The primary efficacy endpoint was the difference from placebo in the change from baseline of the average of morning and evening reflective total nasal symptom score averaged over 2 weeks of treatment. In the study, the ciclesonide 200 microgram once daily dose was statistically significantly different from placebo, but the 100 microgram once daily dose was not statistically significantly different from placebo. The efficacy results for the seasonal allergic rhinitis trial are shown in Table 4.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

Absorption. Ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide have negligible oral bioavailability (both less than 1%) due to low gastrointestinal absorption and high first pass metabolism. The intranasal administration of ciclesonide at recommended doses results in negligible serum concentrations of ciclesonide. However, the known active metabolite (des-ciclesonide) is detected in the serum of some patients after nasal inhalation of ciclesonide. The bioanalytical assay used has a lower limit of quantification of 25 picogram/mL and 10 picogram/mL, for ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide, respectively.
In healthy adults treated for two weeks with 50 to 800 microgram of ciclesonide nasal spray daily, the peak serum concentrations of des-ciclesonide in all subjects were found to be below 30 picogram/mL. Of those treated with 800 microgram and 400 microgram daily, 100% and 67% had detectable levels of des-ciclesonide, respectively. With daily doses of 200 microgram or less, detectable serum levels of des-ciclesonide were not observed. The low systemic exposure following ciclesonide nasal spray administration was confirmed in a crossover study in twenty-nine healthy adults. The median C_max was less than 10 picogram/mL and 602 picogram/mL following a single dose of ciclesonide nasal spray (300 microgram) and orally inhaled ciclesonide (320 microgram, Alvesco), respectively.
In paediatric subjects treated with 25 to 200 microgram of ciclesonide nasal spray daily, serum concentrations of des-ciclesonide were below 45 picogram/mL, with the exception of one value of 64.5 picogram/mL. In a 12 week study in children 6 to 11 years of age with perennial allergic rhinitis, des-ciclesonide was detected in 50% of the subjects treated with 200 microgram and in 5% of those treated with 100 microgram ciclesonide nasal spray daily.
Distribution. Following intravenous administration of 800 microgram of ciclesonide, the volumes of distribution of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide were approximately 2.9 L/kg and 12.1 L/kg, respectively. The percentage of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide bound to human plasma proteins averaged ≥ 99% each, with approximately 1% of unbound drug detected in the systemic circulation. Des-ciclesonide is not significantly bound to human transcortin.
Metabolism. Intranasal ciclesonide is hydrolysed to a biologically active metabolite des-ciclesonide by esterases in the nasal mucosa. Des-ciclesonide undergoes further metabolism in the liver to additional metabolites mainly by the CYP 450 3A4 isozyme and to a lesser extent by CYP 2D6. The full range of potentially active metabolites of ciclesonide has not been characterised. After intravenous administration of ¹⁴C-ciclesonide, 19.3% of the resulting radioactivity in the plasma is accounted for by ciclesonide or des-ciclesonide; the remainder may be a result of other, as yet, unidentified multiple metabolites.
Excretion. Following intravenous administration of 800 microgram of ciclesonide, the clearance values of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide were high (approximately 152 L/h and 228 L/h, respectively). ¹⁴C-labelled ciclesonide was predominantly excreted via the faeces after intravenous administration (66%) indicating that excretion through bile is the major route of elimination. Approximately 20% or less of drug related radioactivity was excreted in the urine.
Special populations. The pharmacokinetics of intranasally administered ciclesonide have not been assessed in patient subpopulations because the resulting blood levels of ciclesonide and des-ciclesonide are insufficient for pharmacokinetic calculations. However, population pharmacokinetic analysis showed that characteristics of des-ciclesonide after oral inhalation of ciclesonide were not appreciably influenced by a variety of subject characteristics such as bodyweight, age, race, and gender.
Studies in renal impaired patients were not conducted since renal excretion of des-ciclesonide is a minor route of elimination (≤ 20%).

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity. Ciclesonide did not induce gene mutations in bacterial (Ames) or mammalian (HPRT) tests in vitro, nor induce chromosomal aberrations in human lymphocytes or micronuclei in Chinese hamster V79 cells in vitro. Racemic ciclesonide was also negative in the Ames test. In contrast, ciclesonide induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow in vivo (at ≥ 75 mg/kg in females and > 1000 mg/kg in males). Positive in vivo clastogenicity results have also been observed with high doses of other corticosteroids and may reflect effects on erythrocyte differentiation. The clinical relevance of these clastogenicity findings is unknown but likely limited.
Carcinogenicity. The carcinogenic potential of ciclesonide was investigated in a 2 year oral study in mice and in a 2 year inhalation study in rats. Gastric adenomas (benign tumour) were significantly increased in female mice at 900 microgram/kg/day (approximately 20 and 11 times the maximum human daily intranasal dose in adults and children, respectively, based on microgram/m² body surface area).
This effect may arise from a local action in the stomach, with local exposure (based on microgram/kg doses being ≥ 90 times higher in the animals compared with humans receiving the maximum recommended dose of Omnaris. No tumourigenicity was observed in rats administered ciclesonide by inhalation at up to 89 microgram/kg/day (males) or 104 microgram/kg/day (females) (approximately 4 and 2 times the maximum human dose in adults and children, respectively, based on body surface area).

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Omnaris Nasal Spray contains cellulose microcrystalline, carmellose sodium, hypromellose, potassium sorbate, disodium edetate, hydrochloric acid to adjust the pH to 4.5, purified water and nitrogen.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

In Australia, information on the shelf life can be found on the public summary of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG). The expiry date can be found on the packaging.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 30°C. Do not freeze.
Store in the foil pouch and only open pouch immediately before first use. Discard 4 months after first opening of pouch.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Omnaris Nasal Spray is a metered-dose, manual-pump spray formulation containing a hypotonic aqueous suspension of ciclesonide. Each pack of Omnaris contains one spray pump bottle containing 60 actuations (10 mL bottle) or 120 actuations (15 mL bottle) actuations of 50 microgram/actuation of ciclesonide after initial priming (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration).
* Not all pack sizes may be available in Australia.

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

Ciclesonide is a white to yellow-white powder, practically insoluble in water and freely soluble in ethanol and acetone.
Chemical name (CAS): [11β,16α(R)] -16,17-[(Cyclohexylmethylene)bis(oxy)]-11-hydroxy-21-(2-methyl-1-oxopropoxy) pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione.
Chemical structure.

CAS number. 126544-47-6 (as the R-epimer).
Molecular formula: C₃₂H₄₄O₇.
Molecular weight: 540.7.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Prescription only medicine (Schedule 4).

Date of First Approval

16 December 2011

Date of Revision

01 September 2025

Summary Table of Changes