Viokace

Overdose

There have been no reports of overdose in clinical trials or post-marketing surveillance with VIOKACE. Chronic high doses of pancreatic enzyme products have been associated with fibrosing colonopathy and colonic strictures. High doses of pancreatic enzyme products have been associated with hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia, and should be used with caution in patients with a history of hyperuricemia, gout, or renal impairment.

Viokace price

Contraindications

None.

Undesirable effects

The most serious adverse reactions reported with different pancreatic enzyme products of the same active ingredient (pancrelipase) that are described elsewhere in the label include fibrosing colonopathy, hyperuricemia and allergic reactions .

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The short-term safety of VIOKACE was assessed in a single, multicenter, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 50 patients, ages 24-70 years, with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy. VIOKACE Tablets (20,880 USP units of lipase per tablet) or placebo were administered as 22 tablets per day (6 tablets with 3 meals and 2 tablets with 2 of 3 snacks). Duration of exposure ranged from 6 to 7 days. The majority of the subjects were Caucasian (96%) and male (82%).

The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 7%) were biliary tract stones and anal pruritus. Table 1 enumerates adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1 patient (greater than or equal to 3%) treated with VIOKACE at a higher rate than with placebo. Two adverse reactions reported in greater than one patient were biliary tract stones and anal pruritus.

TABLE 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 1 Patient (greater than or equal to 3%) in Chronic Pancreatitis or Pancreatectomy

Post-marketing data for VIOKACE have been available since 2003. The safety data are similar to that described below. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Pancreatic enzyme products (delayed and immediate-release) with different formulations of the same active ingredient (pancrelipase) have been used for the treatment of patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis and other conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis. The long-term safety profile of these products has been described in the medical literature. The most serious adverse events included fibrosing colonopathy, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), recurrence of pre-existing carcinoma, and severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, asthma, hives, and pruritus. The most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation and nausea, and skin disorders including pruritus, urticaria and rash.

Therapeutic indications

VIOKACE (pancrelipase) tablets, in combination with a proton pump inhibitor, is indicated in adults for the treatment of exocrine paencratic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy.

Pharmacokinetic properties

Pancreatic enzymes are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in appreciable amounts.

Date of revision of the text

Name of the medicinal product

Fertility, pregnancy and lactation

Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with pancrelipase. It is also not known whether pancrelipase can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. VIOKACE should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. The risk and benefit of pancrelipase should be considered in the context of the need to provide adequate nutritional support to a pregnant woman with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Adequate caloric intake during pregnancy is important for normal maternal weight gain and fetal growth. Reduced maternal weight gain and malnutrition can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Qualitative and quantitative composition

The active ingredient in VIOKACE evaluated in clinical trials is lipase. VIOKACE is dosed in lipase units.

Other active ingredients include protease and amylase. Each VIOKACE tablet strength contains the specified amounts of lipase, protease, and amylase as follows:

• 10,440 USP units of lipase; 39,150 USP units of protease; 39,150 USP units of amylase tablets are tan, round, biconvex and have VIO9111 engraved on one side and 9111 on the other side.
• 20,880 USP units of lipase; 78,300 USP units of protease; 78,300 USP units of amylase tablets are tan, oval, biconvex with V16 engraved on one side and 9116 on the other side.

10,440 USP units of lipase; 39,150 USP units of protease; 39,150 USP units of amylase

Each VIOKACE tablet is available as a tan, round, biconvex tablet with VIO9111 engraved on one side and 9111 on the other side supplied in bottles of 100 tablets (NDC 58914-112-10).

20,880 USP units of lipase; 78,300 USP units of protease; 78,300 USP units of amylase

Each VIOKACE tablet is available as a tan, oval, biconvex tablet with V16 engraved on one side and 9116 on the other side supplied in bottles of 100 tablets (NDC 58914-117-10).

Avoid heat. VIOKACE tablets should be stored in a dry place in the original container. Store at room temperature (20-25°C, 68-77°F), brief excursion permitted up to 40°C (104°F) for up to 24 hrs. After opening, keep the container tightly closed between uses to protect from moisture.

VIOKACE is dispensed in bottles containing a desiccant. The desiccant packet should not be eaten. The desiccant packet will protect the product from moisture.

REFERENCES

1. Borowitz DS, Grand RJ, Durie PR, et al. Use of pancreatic enzyme supplements for patients with cystic fibrosis in the context of fibrosing colonopathy. Journal of Pediatrics. 1995; 127: 681-684.

2. Borowitz DS, Baker RD, Stallings V. Consensus report on nutrition for pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology Nutrition. 2002 Sep; 35: 246-259.

3. Stallings VA, Start LJ, Robinson KA, et al. Evidence-based practice recommendations for nutrition-related management of children and adults with cystic fibrosis and pancreatic insufficiency: results of a systematic review. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2008; 108: 832-839.

4. Dominguez-Munoz JE, Pancreatic enzyme therapy for pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Current Gastroenterology Reports. 2007; 9: 116-122. 5Smyth RL, Ashby D, O'Hea U, et al. Fibrosing colonopathy in cystic fibrosis: results of a case-control study. Lancet. 1995; 346: 12471251.

Marketed by: Aptalis Pharma US, Inc., 22 Inverness Center Parkway Birmingham, AL 35242 USA. Manufactured by: Confab Laboratories, Inc. St. Hubert, Canada. Revised: March 2012

Special warnings and precautions for use

Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.

Fibrosing colonopathy has been reported following treatment with different pancreatic enzyme products.5,6 Fibrosing colonopathy is a rare, serious adverse reaction initially described in association with high-dose pancreatic enzyme use, usually over a prolonged period of time and most commonly reported in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. The underlying mechanism of fibrosing colonopathy remains unknown. Doses of pancreatic enzyme products exceeding 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal have been associated with colonic stricture in children less than 12 years of age.1 Patients with fibrosing colonopathy should be closely monitored because some patients may be at risk of progressing to stricture formation. It is uncertain whether regression of fibrosing colonopathy occurs.1 It is generally recommended, unless clinically indicated, that enzyme doses should be less than 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or less than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day) or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day.

Doses greater than 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day) should be used with caution and only if they are documented to be effective by 3-day fecal fat measures that indicate a significantly improved coefficient of fat absorption. Patients receiving higher doses than 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal should be examined and the dosage either immediately decreased or titrated downward to a lower range.

Care should be taken to ensure that no drug is retained in the mouth to avoid irritation of oral mucosa, and/or loss of enzyme activity. VIOKACE should not be crushed or chewed.

Caution should be exercised when prescribing VIOKACE to patients with gout, renal impairment, or hyperuricemia. Porcine-derived pancreatic enzyme products contain purines that may increase blood uric acid levels.

VIOKACE is sourced from pancreatic tissue from pigs used for food consumption. Although the risk that VIOKACE will transmit an infectious agent to humans has been reduced by testing for certain viruses during manufacturing and by inactivating certain viruses during manufacturing, there is a theoretical risk for transmission of viral disease, including diseases caused by novel or unidentified viruses. Thus, the presence of porcine viruses that might infect humans cannot be definitely excluded. However, no cases of transmission of an infectious illness associated with the use of porcine pancreatic extracts have been reported.

Caution should be exercised when administering pancrelipase to a patient with a known allergy to proteins of porcine origin. Rarely, severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, asthma, hives, and pruritus, have been reported with other pancreatic enzyme products with different formulations of the same active ingredient (pancrelipase). The risks and benefits of continued VIOKACE treatment in patients with severe allergy should be taken into consideration with the overall clinical needs of the patient.

VIOKACE tablets contain lactose monohydrate. Patients who have lactose intolerance may not be able to tolerate VIOKACE.

"See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)"

• Instruct patients and caregivers that VIOKACE should only be taken as directed by their doctor. Patients should be advised that the total daily dose should not exceed 10,000 lipase units/kg body weight/day unless clinically indicated. This needs to be especially emphasized for patients eating multiple snacks and meals per day. Patients should be informed that if a dose is missed, the next dose should be taken with the next meal or snack as directed. Doses should not be doubled.
• Instruct patients and caregivers that VIOKACE should always be taken with food. Patients should swallow the intact tablets with adequate amounts of liquid at mealtimes.

Advise patients and caregivers to follow dosing instructions carefully, as doses of pancreatic enzyme products exceeding 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal have been associated with colonic strictures in children below the age of 12 years.

Advise patients and caregivers to contact their healthcare professional immediately if allergic reactions to VIOKACE develop.

• Instruct patients to notify their healthcare professional if they are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant during treatment with VIOKACE.
• Instruct patients to notify their healthcare professional if they are breast feeding or are thinking of breast feeding during treatment with VIOKACE.

Carcinogenicity, genetic toxicology, and animal fertility studies have not been performed with pancrelipase.

Pregnancy Category C. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with pancrelipase. It is also not known whether pancrelipase can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. VIOKACE should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed. The risk and benefit of pancrelipase should be considered in the context of the need to provide adequate nutritional support to a pregnant woman with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Adequate caloric intake during pregnancy is important for normal maternal weight gain and fetal growth. Reduced maternal weight gain and malnutrition can be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.

It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when VIOKACE is administered to a nursing woman. The risk and benefit of pancrelipase should be considered in the context of the need to provide adequate nutritional support to a nursing mother with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.

The safety and effectiveness of VIOKACE in pediatric patients have not been established. In general, delayed-release (enteric-coated) capsules should be used for pediatric patients. Due to greater degradation in the gastric environment, VIOKACE, a non-enteric-coated, pancreatic enzyme replacement product, may have decreased bioavailability and therefore may be less efficacious than enteric-coated formulations.7, 8 Thus, use of VIOKACE in pediatric patients may increase the risk of inadequate treatment of pancreatic insufficiency and result in suboptimal weight gain, malnutrition and/or need for larger doses of pancreatic enzyme replacement The efficacy of VIOKACE was established in adult patients with concomitant proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. The long-term safety of PPI use in pediatric patients has not been established.

Clinical studies of VIOKACE did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, usually starting at the low end of the dosing range, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.

REFERENCES

1. Borowitz DS, Grand RJ, Durie PR, et al. Use of pancreatic enzyme supplements for patients with cystic fibrosis in the context of fibrosing colonopathy. Journal of Pediatrics. 1995; 127: 681-684.

5. Smyth RL, Ashby D, O'Hea U, et al. Fibrosing colonopathy in cystic fibrosis: results of a case-control study. Lancet. 1995; 346: 12471251.

6. FitzSimmons SC, Burkhart GA, Borowitz DS, et al. High-dose pancreatic-enzyme supplements and fibrosing colonopathy in children with cystic fibrosis. New England Journal of Medicine. 1997; 336: 1283-1289.

7. Gow R, Francis P, Bradbear R, et al. Comparative study of varying regimens to improve steatorrhoea and creatorrhoea in cystic fibrosis: effectiveness of an enteric-coated preparation with and without antacids and cimetidine. Lancet. November 14, 1981: 1071-1074.

8. Ansaldi-Balocco N, Santini B, Sarchi C. Efficacy of pancreatic enzyme supplementation in children with cystic fibrosis: comparison of two preparations by random crossover study and a retrospective study of the same patients at two different ages. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1988;7 Suppl 1:S40-5.

Dosage (Posology) and method of administration

VIOKACE is not interchangeable with any other pancrelipase product. VIOKACE is orally administered. Therapy should be initiated at the lowest recommended dose and gradually increased. The dosage of VIOKACE should be individualized based on clinical symptoms, the degree of steatorrhea present, and the fat content of the diet as described in the Limitations on Dosing below.

Since VIOKACE is not enteric-coated, it should be taken in combination with a proton pump inhibitor.

VIOKACE should be taken during meals or snacks, with sufficient fluid. Tablets should be swallowed whole. Do not crush or chew tablets. Care should be taken to ensure that no drug is retained in the mouth to avoid mucosal irritation.

Dosage recommendations for pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy were published following the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences.1,2,3 VIOKACE should be administered in a manner consistent with the recommendations of the Conferences provided in the following paragraph. Only the adult dosing guidelines are shown below. Patients may be dosed on a fat ingestion-based or actual body weight-based dosing scheme.

Additional recommendations for pancreatic enzyme therapy in patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy are based on a clinical trial conducted in these populations.

Enzyme dosing should begin with 500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal to a maximum of 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or less than or equal to 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day), or less than 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested per day.

Usually, half of the prescribed VIOKACE dose for an individualized full meal should be given with each snack. The total daily dosage should reflect approximately three meals plus two or three snacks per day.

In one clinical trial, patients received VIOKACE at a dose of 125,280 lipase units per meal while consuming 100 g of fat per day. Lower starting doses recommended in the literature are consistent with the 500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal 1, 2, 3, 4 lowest starting dose recommended for adults in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences Guidelines. The initial starting dose and increases in the dose per meal should be individualized based on clinical symptoms, the degree of steatorrhea present, and the fat content of the diet.

Dosing should not exceed the recommended maximum dosage set forth by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences Guidelines.1,2,3 If symptoms and signs of steatorrhea persist, the dosage may be increased by the healthcare professional. Patients should be instructed not to increase the dosage on their own. There is great inter-individual variation in response to enzymes; thus, a range of doses is recommended. Changes in dosage may require an adjustment period of several days. If doses are to exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal, further investigation is warranted. Doses greater than 2,500 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per day) should be used with caution and only if they are documented to be effective by 3-day fecal fat measures that indicate a significantly improved coefficient of fat absorption. Doses greater than 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal have been associated with colonic stricture, indicative of fibrosing colonopathy, in children less than 12 years of age. Patients currently receiving higher doses than 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal should be examined and the dosage either immediately decreased or titrated downward to a lower range.

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

The most serious adverse reactions reported with different pancreatic enzyme products of the same active ingredient (pancrelipase) that are described elsewhere in the label include fibrosing colonopathy, hyperuricemia and allergic reactions .

Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.

The short-term safety of VIOKACE was assessed in a single, multicenter, randomized, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 50 patients, ages 24-70 years, with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to chronic pancreatitis or pancreatectomy. VIOKACE Tablets (20,880 USP units of lipase per tablet) or placebo were administered as 22 tablets per day (6 tablets with 3 meals and 2 tablets with 2 of 3 snacks). Duration of exposure ranged from 6 to 7 days. The majority of the subjects were Caucasian (96%) and male (82%).

The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 7%) were biliary tract stones and anal pruritus. Table 1 enumerates adverse reactions that occurred in at least 1 patient (greater than or equal to 3%) treated with VIOKACE at a higher rate than with placebo. Two adverse reactions reported in greater than one patient were biliary tract stones and anal pruritus.

TABLE 1: Adverse Reactions Occurring in at Least 1 Patient (greater than or equal to 3%) in Chronic Pancreatitis or Pancreatectomy

Post-marketing data for VIOKACE have been available since 2003. The safety data are similar to that described below. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

Pancreatic enzyme products (delayed and immediate-release) with different formulations of the same active ingredient (pancrelipase) have been used for the treatment of patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis and other conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis. The long-term safety profile of these products has been described in the medical literature. The most serious adverse events included fibrosing colonopathy, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), recurrence of pre-existing carcinoma, and severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, asthma, hives, and pruritus. The most commonly reported adverse events were gastrointestinal disorders, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, flatulence, constipation and nausea, and skin disorders including pruritus, urticaria and rash.

No drug interactions have been identified. No formal interaction studies have been conducted.