CHOLBAM
CHOLIC ACID
Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE CHOLBAM is a bile acid indicated for: • Treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs). ( 1.1 ) • Adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of use: The safety and effectiveness of CHOLBAM on extrahepatic manifestations of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs or PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders have not been established. ( 1.3 ). 1.1 Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders Due to Single Enzyme Defects CHOLBAM is indicated for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs). 1.2.
Peroxisomal Disorders Including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders CHOLBAM is indicated for adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption. 1.3.
Structured Monograph
Clinical summary
Indications and usage 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE CHOLBAM is a bile acid indicated for: • Treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs). ( 1.1 ) • Adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of use: The safety and effectiveness of CHOLBAM on extrahepatic manifestations of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs or PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders have not been established. ( 1.3 ). 1.1 Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders Due to Single Enzyme Defects CHOLBAM is indicated for the treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs). 1.2. Peroxisomal Disorders Including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders CHOLBAM is indicated for adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption. 1.3. Limitations of Use The safety and effectiveness of CHOLBAM on extrahepatic manifestations of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs or PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders have not been established. Dosage and administration 2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • The recommended dosage is 10 to 15 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and adults. See prescribing information for weight-based dosing tables. ( 2.1 ) • The recommended dosage in patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia is 11 to 17 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses and is adjusted based on clinical response. ( 2.1 ) • Monitor AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and INR every month for the first 3 months, every 3 months for the next 9 months, every 6 months during the next three years and annually thereafter. Administer the lowest dose that effectively maintains liver function. ( 2.2 ) • Discontinue CHOLBAM if liver function does not improve within 3 months of starting treatment, if complete biliary obstruction develops, or if there are persistent clinical or laboratory indicators of worsening liver function or cholestasis; continue to monitor liver function and consider restarting at a lower dose when parameters return to baseline. ( 2.2 , 5.1 ) Administration Instructions: • Take with food. ( 2.3 ) • Do not crush or chew the capsules. For patients unable to swallow the capsules, the capsules can be opened and the contents mixed with drink/food ( 2.3 ) 2.1. Dosage Regimen for Bile Acid Synthesis Disorders Due to SEDs and PDs Including Zellweger Spectrum Disorders The recommended dosage of CHOLBAM is 10 to 15 mg/kg administered orally once daily or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and adults. Table 1 and Table 2 show the number of capsules that should be administered daily to approximate a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day and 15 mg/kg/day, respectively, using the available 50 mg and 250 mg capsules alone or in combination. Table 1: Number of CHOLBAM Capsules Needed to Achieve a Recommended Dosage of 10 mg/kg/day 10 mg/kg/day Dosage Body Weight (kg) Number of 50 mg capsules Number of 250 mg capsules 4 to 6 1 0 7 to 10 2 0 11 to 15 3 0 16 to 20 4 0 21 to 25 0 1 26 to 30 1 1 31 to 35 2 1 36 to 40 3 1 41 to 45 4 1 46 to 50 0 2 51 to 55 1 2 56 to 60 2 2 61 to 65 3 2 66 to 70 4 2 71 to 75 0 3 76 to 80 1 3 Table 2: Number of CHOLBAM Capsules Needed to Achieve a Recommended Dosage of 15 mg/kg/day 15 mg/kg/day Dosage Body Weight (kg) Number of 50 mg capsules Number of 250 mg capsules 4 to 5 1 0 6 to 9 2 0 10 to 13 3 0 14 to 16 4 0 17 to 19 0 1 20 to 23 1 1 24 to 26 2 1 27 to 29 3 1 30 to 33 4 1 34 to 36 0 2 37 to 39 1 2 40 to 43 2 2 44 to 46 3 2 47 to 49 4 2 50 to 53 0 3 54 to 56 1 3 57 to 59 2 3 60 to 63 3 3 64 to 66 4 3 67 to 69 0 4 70 to 73 1 4 74 to 76 2 4 77 to 79 3 4 80 4 4 Patients with newly diagnosed, or a family history of, familial hypertriglyceridemia may have poor absorption of CHOLBAM from the intestine and require a 10% increase in the recommended dosage to account for losses due to malabsorption. The recommended dosage of CHOLBAM in patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia is 11 to 17 mg/kg orally once daily, or in two divided doses. Adequacy of the dosage regimen can be determined by monitoring the patient’s clinical response including steatorrhea and laboratory values of serum transaminases, bilirubin, and prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR). 2.2. Treatment Monitoring Treatment with CHOLBAM should be initiated and monitored by an experienced hepatologist or pediatric gastroenterologist. Monitor serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin, and INR every month for the first 3 months, every 3 months for the next 9 months, every 6 months during the
Monitoring
- • 5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Exacerbation of Liver Impairment: Monitor liver function.
- • Discontinue CHOLBAM if liver function worsens while on treatment.
- • ( 5.1 ) 5.1 Exacerbation of Liver Impairment In clinical trials, evidence of liver impairment was present before treatment with CHOLBAM in approximately 86% (44/51) of patients with bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs and in approximately 50% (14/28) of patients with PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders.
- • Five of the patients (3 SED and 2 PD) with liver impairment at baseline experienced worsening serum transaminases, elevated bilirubin values, or worsening cholestasis on liver biopsy following treatment.
Interaction Notes
- • 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Bile Salt Efflux Pump (BSEP) Inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine): Avoid concomitant use; if concomitant use is necessary, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin ( 7.1 ) • Bile Acid Resins and Aluminum-Based Antacids: Take CHOLBAM at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin or aluminum-based antacids.
- • ( 2.3 , 7.1 ) 7.1.
- • Effects of Other Drugs on CHOLBAM Drug interactions with CHOLBAM mainly relate to agents capable of interrupting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.
- • Inhibitors of Bile Acid Transporters Avoid concomitant use of inhibitors of the bile salt efflux pump (BSEP) such as cyclosporine.