Creon (Page 3 of 6)

6.2 Postmarketing Experience

Postmarketing data from this formulation of CREON have been available since 2009. The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of this formulation of CREON. 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.

Gastrointestinal disorders (including abdominal pain, diarrhea,

flatulence, constipation and nausea), skin disorders (including pruritus,

urticaria and rash), blurred vision, myalgia, muscle spasm, and asymptomatic elevations of liver

enzymes have been reported with this formulation of CREON.

Delayed- and immediate-release pancreatic enzyme products 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 reactions included fibrosing colonopathy, distal intestinal obstruction syndrome (DIOS), recurrence of pre-existing carcinoma, and severe allergic reactions including anaphylaxis, asthma, hives, and pruritus.

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS

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

8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS

8.1 Pregnancy

Risk Summary

Published data from case reports with pancrelipase use in pregnant women have not identified a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. Pancrelipase is minimally absorbed systematically; therefore, maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug. Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with pancrelipase.

The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2 to 4% and 15 to 20%, respectively.

8.2 Lactation

Risk Summary

There are no data on the presence of pancrelipase in either human or animal milk, the effects on the breastfed infant or the effects on milk production. Pancrelipase is minimally absorbed systemically following oral administration; therefore, maternal use is not expected to result in clinically relevant exposure of breastfed infants to the drug. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for CREON and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from CREON or from the underlying maternal condition.

8.4 Pediatric Use

The short-term safety and effectiveness of CREON were assessed in two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover studies of 49 patients with EPI due to cystic fibrosis, 25 of whom were pediatric patients. Study 1 included 8 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age. Study 2 included 17 children between 7 and 11 years of age. The safety and efficacy in pediatric patients in these studies were similar to adult patients [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1) and Clinical Studies ( 14)].

An open-label, single-arm, short-term study of CREON was conducted in 18 infants and children, ages 4 months to six years of age, with EPI due to cystic fibrosis. Patients received their usual pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (mean dose of 7,000 lipase units/kg/day for a mean duration of 18.2 days) followed by CREON (mean dose of 7,500 lipase units/kg/day for a mean duration of 12.6 days). The mean daily fat intake was 48 grams during treatment with usual pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy and 47 grams during treatment with CREON. When patients were switched from their usual pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy to CREON, they demonstrated similar spot fecal fat testing results; the clinical relevance of spot fecal fat testing has not been demonstrated. Adverse reactions that occurred in patients during treatment with CREON were vomiting, irritability, and decreased appetite [see Adverse Reactions ( 6.1)].

The safety and efficacy of pancreatic enzyme products with different formulations of pancrelipase consisting of the same active ingredient (lipases, proteases, and amylases) for treatment of children with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis have been described in the medical literature and through clinical experience.

Dosing of pediatric patients should be in accordance with recommended guidance from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.1)]. Doses of other pancreatic enzyme products exceeding 6,000 lipase units/kg of body weight per meal have been associated with fibrosing colonopathy and colonic strictures in children less than 12 years of age [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1)].

8.5 Geriatric Use

Clinical studies of CREON 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.

10 OVERDOSAGE

There have been no reports of overdose in clinical trials or postmarketing surveillance with this formulation of CREON. Chronic high doses of pancreatic enzyme products have been associated with fibrosing colonopathy and colonic strictures [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.2) and Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1)]. 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 [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3)].

11 DESCRIPTION

Pancrelipase is a pancreatic enzyme preparation consisting of a combination of lipases, proteases, and amylases and is an extract derived from porcine pancreatic glands.

CREON (pancrelipase)

delayed-release capsules are for oral administration and include a two-piece shell containing tan-colored enteric-coated spheres (0.71 mm to 1.60 mm in diameter) available as follows:

3,000 USP units of lipase; 9,500 USP units of protease; and 15,000 USP units of amylase delayed-release capsules have a white opaque cap with imprint “CREON 1203” and a white opaque body. The shells contain titanium dioxide and hypromellose.

6,000 USP units of lipase; 19,000 USP units of protease; and 30,000 USP units of amylase delayed-release capsules have a Swedish-orange opaque cap with imprint “CREON 1206” and a blue opaque body. The shells contain FD&C Blue No. 2, gelatin, red iron oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

12,000 USP units of lipase; 38,000 USP units of protease; and 60,000 USP units of amylase delayed-release capsules have a brown opaque cap with imprint “CREON 1212” and a colorless transparent body. The shells contain black iron oxide, gelatin, red iron oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

24,000 USP units of lipase; 76,000 USP units of protease; and 120,000 USP units of amylase delayed-release capsules have a Swedish-orange opaque cap with imprint “CREON 1224” and a colorless transparent body. The shells contain gelatin, red iron oxide, sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and yellow iron oxide.

36,000 USP units of lipase; 114,000 USP units of protease; and 180,000 USP units of amylase delayed-release capsules have a blue opaque cap with imprint “CREON 1236” and a colorless transparent body. The shells contain gelatin, titanium dioxide, FD&C Blue No. 2 and sodium lauryl sulfate.

CREON (pancrelipase) delayed-release capsules include the following inactive ingredients: cetyl alcohol, dimethicone, hypromellose phthalate, polyethylene glycol, and triethyl citrate.

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

12.1 Mechanism of Action

The pancreatic enzymes in CREON catalyze the hydrolysis of fats to monoglyceride, glycerol and free fatty acids, proteins into peptides and amino acids, and starches into dextrins and short chain sugars such as maltose and maltriose in the duodenum and proximal small intestine, thereby acting like digestive enzymes physiologically secreted by the pancreas.