Zenpep

ZENPEP is a mixture of enzymes including lipases, proteases, and amylases. ZENPEP dosing is based on lipase units.

• Use either an actual body weight or fat ingestion-based dosing scheme.
• Start at the lowest recommended dosage and individualize the dosage based on clinical symptoms, the degree of steatorrhea present, and the fat content of the diet. Changes in dosage may require an adjustment period of several days.
• Do not exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg/meal, 10,000 lipase units/kg/day, or 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested/day in adult and pediatric patients greater than 12 months of age without further investigation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
• The total daily dosage in adult and pediatric patients greater than 12 months of age should reflect approximately three meals plus two or three snacks per day. With each snack, administer approximately half the prescribed ZENPEP dose for a meal.
• Do not substitute other pancreatic enzyme products for ZENPEP. When switching from another pancreatic enzyme product to ZENPEP, monitor patients for clinical symptoms of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and titrate the dosage as needed. 

Instruct adult and pediatric patients greater than 12 months of age, or their caregivers, of the following:

• Take ZENPEP during meals or snacks. If a dose is missed, take the next dose with the next meal or snack.
• Swallow capsules whole.
• For patients who are unable to swallow intact capsules, carefully open the capsules and sprinkle the entire contents on a small amount of acidic soft food with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., commercially available preparations of applesauce, bananas, or pears). Consume the entire mixture immediately.
• Do not crush or chew ZENPEP capsules or capsule contents.
• Consume sufficient liquids (water or juice) to ensure complete swallowing of ZENPEP [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Instruct caregivers of pediatric patients birth to 12 months of age of the following:

• Immediately prior to each breast-feeding session or each administration of 120 mL of formula, carefully open one ZENPEP capsule (containing 3,000 USP units of lipase) and administer the entire contents using one of the following two methods:
  • Sprinkle on a small amount of acidic soft food with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., commercially available preparations of applesauce, bananas or pears) being careful not to crush the capsule contents. The entire mixture should be given to the infant immediately.
  • Sprinkle the capsule contents directly into the infant's mouth.
• Immediately administer additional breast milk or formula after ZENPEP to ensure complete swallowing of the capsule contents.
• Do not mix the ZENPEP capsule contents directly into a bottle of breast milk or formula.
• Do not crush ZENPEP capsule contents, and visually inspect the infant's mouth to ensure that no drug is retained in the mouth [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
• If a dose is missed, administer the next dose with the next feeding.

Fibrosing colonopathy has been reported following treatment with pancreatic enzyme products. Fibrosing colonopathy is a rare serious adverse reaction initially described in association with use of high-dose pancreatic enzyme products, usually with use over a prolonged period of time and most commonly reported in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. Pancreatic enzyme products exceeding 6,000 lipase units/kg/meal have been associated with colonic stricture, a complication of fibrosing colonopathy, in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age. The underlying mechanism of fibrosing colonopathy remains unknown.

If there is a history of fibrosing colonopathy, monitor patients during treatment with ZENPEP because some patients may be at risk of progressing to colonic stricture formation. It is uncertain whether regression of fibrosing colonopathy occurs. Do not exceed the recommended dosage of either 2,500 lipase units/kg/meal, 10,000 lipase units/kg/day, or 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested/day in adult and pediatric patients greater than 12 months of age without further investigation. Higher dosages may be administered if they are documented to be effective by fecal fat measures or an improvement in signs or symptoms of malabsorption including measures of nutritional status. Patients receiving dosages higher than 6,000 lipase units/kg/meal should be frequently monitored for symptoms of fibrosing colonopathy and the dosage decreased or titrated downward to a lower range if clinically appropriate [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)].

Crushing or chewing ZENPEP capsules or mixing the capsule contents in foods having a pH greater than 4.5 can disrupt the protective enteric coating on the capsule contents and result in early release of enzymes, irritation of the oral mucosa, and/or loss of enzyme activity.

Instruct the patient or caregiver of the following:

• Swallow capsules whole. For patients who cannot swallow the capsules whole, the capsules can be opened, and the contents sprinkled on a small amount of acidic soft food with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., commercially available preparations of applesauce, bananas or pears).
• Do not crush or chew ZENPEP capsules or capsule contents.
• Consume sufficient liquids (juice, water, breast milk, or formula) immediately following administration of ZENPEP to ensure complete swallowing.
• Visually inspect the mouth of pediatric patients less than 12 months of age and of patients who are unable to swallow intact capsules to ensure no drug is retained in the mouth and irritation of the oral mucosa has not occurred [see Dosage and Administration (2.3)].

Pancreatic enzyme products contain purines that may increase blood uric acid levels. High dosages have been associated with hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia [see Overdosage (10)]. Consider monitoring blood uric acid levels in patients with gout, renal impairment, or hyperuricemia during treatment with ZENPEP.

ZENPEP is sourced from pancreatic tissue from swine used for food consumption. Although the risk that ZENPEP 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.

Severe hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, asthma, hives, and pruritus have been reported with pancreatic enzyme products [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. If symptoms occur, initiate appropriate medical management.

Monitor patients with a known hypersensitivity reaction to proteins of porcine origin for hypersensitivity reactions during treatment with ZENPEP. The risks and benefits of continued ZENPEP treatment in patients with severe hypersensitivity reactions should be taken into consideration with the overall clinical needs of the patient.

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 clinical practice.

The data described below reflect exposure to ZENPEP in 53 adult and pediatric patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis in two clinical trials conducted [see Clinical Studies (14)]. In both trials, ZENPEP was administered at dosages of approximately 5,000 lipase units/kg/day for 19 to 42 days.

Study 1 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of 34 adult and pediatric patients, aged 7 to 23 years. Adverse reactions that were reported in at least 2 ZENPEP-treated patients (greater than or equal to 6%) and at a higher rate than in placebo-treated patients in Study 1 are shown in Table 1.

Study 2 was an open-label, uncontrolled study of ZENPEP in 19 pediatric patients aged 1 to 6 years. The most commonly reported adverse reactions were gastrointestinal, including abdominal pain and steatorrhea.

The type and incidence of adverse reactions in Studies 1 and 2 were similar between pediatric patients and adults.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of ZENPEP or other pancreatic enzyme products. 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.

The safety and effectiveness of ZENPEP for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency have been established in pediatric patients.

Use of ZENPEP for this indication is supported by an adequate and well-controlled trial in adult and pediatric patients 7 to 17 years of age (Study 1) along with supportive data from an open-label, single arm study in 19 pediatric patients 1 to 6 years of age (Study 2). Both study populations consisted of patients with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis. The safety in pediatric patients in Studies 1 and 2 were similar to that observed in adult patients [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14)].

Dosages exceeding 6,000 lipase units/kg/meal have been reported postmarketing to be associated with fibrosing colonopathy and colonic strictures in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age. If there is a history of fibrosing colonopathy, monitor patients during treatment with ZENPEP because some patients may be at risk of progressing to stricture formation. Do not exceed the recommended dosage of either 2,500 lipase units/kg/meal, 10,000 lipase units/kg/day, or 4,000 lipase units/g fat ingested/day in pediatric patients greater than 12 months of age without further investigation. [see Dosage and Administration (2.2) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Crushing or chewing ZENPEP capsules or mixing the capsule contents in foods having a pH greater than 4.5 can disrupt the protective enteric coating on the capsule contents and result in early release of enzymes, irritation of the oral mucosa, and/or loss of enzyme activity. Instruct the patient or caregiver of the following: consume sufficient liquids (juice, water, breast milk, or formula) to ensure complete swallowing, and visually inspect the mouth of pediatric patients less than 12 months of age to ensure that no drug is retained in the mouth and irritation of the oral mucosa has not occurred [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Clinical studies of ZENPEP did not include sufficient numbers of patients aged 65 years and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between patients aged 65 years and over and younger adult patients.

Pancreatic enzyme products contain a mixture of lipases, proteases, and amylases that catalyze the hydrolysis of fats to monoglycerides, glycerol, and free fatty acids, protein into peptides and amino acids, and starch 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.

For patients consuming a high fat diet in the clinical trials, the coefficient of fat absorption (CFA) was higher in patients who received ZENPEP compared to the placebo treatment group, indicating improved fat absorption [see Clinical Studies (14)].

Following oral administration, the lipases, proteases, and amylases released from ZENPEP are not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract in appreciable amounts.

Adult and Pediatric Patients 7 Years of Age and Older

Study 1 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study of 34 patients, aged 7 to 23 years, with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis. The final analysis population was limited to 32 patients, who completed both double-blind treatment periods, and were included in the efficacy analysis population. Patients were randomized to receive ZENPEP or matching placebo for 6 to 7 days of treatment, followed by crossover to the alternate treatment for an additional 6 to 7 days. The mean exposure to ZENPEP during this study, including titration period and open label transition, was 30 days. The mean dosage during the controlled treatment periods ranged from a mean dose of 3,900 lipase units/kg/day to 5,700 lipase units/kg/day. All patients consumed a high-fat diet (greater than or equal to 100 grams of fat per day) during the treatment period. The population was nearly evenly distributed in biological sex, and approximately 96% of patients were White.

Pediatric Patients 1 to 6 Years of Age

Study 2 was an open-label, uncontrolled study of 19 pediatric patients, aged 1 to 6 years (mean age 4 years), with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis. Approximately half of the patients were aged 1 to 3 years. Study 2 compared a measurement of fat malabsorption, spot fecal fat testing, before (while receiving therapy with another pancreatic enzyme product) and after oral administration of ZENPEP capsules with each meal or snack.

After a 4 to 14 day screening period during which patients remained on their current pancreatic enzyme product, patients were switched to ZENPEP at individually titrated dosages ranging between 2,300 and 10,000 lipase units/kg/day (not to exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg/meal) for 14 days. The mean ZENPEP dosage was approximately 5,000 lipase unit/kg/day. There was no wash-out period. Overall, patients showed similar control of fat malabsorption by spot fecal fat testing when switched from their current pancreatic enzyme product to ZENPEP treatment at a similar dosage.

Storage and Handling

Fibrosing Colonopathy

Advise the patient or caregiver that fibrosing colonopathy has been reported with high dosages of pancreatic enzyme products, usually with use over a prolonged period of time and in pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis. Colonic stricture has been reported in pediatric patients less than 12 years of age. Advise patients and caregivers that if signs and symptoms of colon stricture formation occur (e.g., stomach area (abdominal) pain, bloating, trouble passing stool (constipation), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) to immediately contact their healthcare provider [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].

Hyperuricemia

Advise the patient or caregiver that hyperuricemia may occur in patients with gout or renal impairment and to contact the healthcare provider if they experience pain, stiffness, redness or swelling of their joints [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

Hypersensitivity Reactions

Inform the patient or caregiver that severe hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis asthma, hives, and pruritus, have been reported with use of pancreatic enzyme products. Seek medical attention if signs or symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction develop [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)].

Dosage

Advise the patient or caregiver to take ZENPEP as prescribed, and to contact the healthcare provider if signs and symptoms of malabsorption persist [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)].

Administration

Instruct the patient or caregiver as follows:

• Take ZENPEP with meals or snacks.
• Swallow capsules whole.
• For adult and pediatric patients who are unable to swallow intact capsules, the capsule contents may be sprinkled on a small amount of acidic soft food with a pH of 4.5 or less (e.g., commercially available preparations of applesauce, bananas, or pears). For pediatric patients birth to 12 months of age, ZENPEP capsules can also be opened, and the capsule contents sprinkled directly into the infant's mouth.
• Consume sufficient liquids (juice, water, breast milk, or formula) and visually inspect an infant's mouth to ensure complete swallowing of ZENPEP capsules or capsule contents [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].
• Do not crush or chew ZENPEP capsules or capsule contents.
• Do not mix the ZENPEP capsule contents directly into a bottle of breast milk or formula.

Storage

Instruct the patient or caregiver as follows:

• Keep ZENPEP in a dry place and protect from moisture and heat.
• After opening, keep bottle tightly closed between uses to protect from moisture.
• Keep the desiccant in the bottle, if present. The desiccant packet should not be eaten or thrown away.