ACIPHEX SPRINKLE Delayed-release capsule Ref.[10531] Active ingredients: Rabeprazole

5.1 Presence of Gastric Malignancy

In adults, symptomatic response to therapy with ACIPHEX does not preclude the presence of gastric malignancy. Consider additional follow-up and diagnostic testing in adult patients who have a suboptimal response or an early symptomatic relapse after completing treatment with a PPI. In older patients, also consider an endoscopy.

5.2 Interaction with Warfarin

Steady state interactions of rabeprazole and warfarin have not been adequately evaluated in patients. There have been reports of increased INR and prothrombin time in patients receiving a proton pump inhibitor and warfarin concomitantly. Increases in INR and prothrombin time may lead to abnormal bleeding and even death. Patients treated with ACIPHEX Sprinkle and warfarin concomitantly may need to be monitored for increases in INR and prothrombin time [see Drug Interactions (7)].

5.3 Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) has been observed in patients taking PPIs and may occur at any point during PPI therapy. Patients may present with varying signs and symptoms from symptomatic hypersensitivity reactions to non-specific symptoms of decreased renal function (e.g., malaise, nausea, anorexia). In reported case series, some patients were diagnosed on biopsy and in the absence of extra-renal manifestations (e.g., fever, rash or arthralgia).

Discontinue ACIPHEX Sprinkle and evaluate patients with suspected acute TIN [see Contraindications (4)].

5.4 Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea

Published observational studies suggest that PPI therapy like ACIPHEX Sprinkle may be associated with an increased risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, especially in hospitalized patients. This diagnosis should be considered for diarrhea that does not improve [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

Patients should use the lowest dose and shortest duration of PPI therapy appropriate to the condition being treated.

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents.

5.5 Bone Fracture

Several published observational studies in adults suggest that PPI therapy may be associated with an increased risk for osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine. The risk of fracture was increased in patients who received high-dose, defined as multiple daily doses, and long-term PPI therapy (a year or longer). Patients should use the lowest dose and shortest duration of PPI therapy appropriate to the condition being treated.

Patients at risk for osteoporosis-related fractures should be managed according to established treatment guidelines [see Dosage and Administration (2), Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

ACIPHEX Sprinkle is indicated for short-term treatment up to 12 weeks. Treatment for longer than 12 weeks is not recommended.

5.6 Cutaneous and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been reported in patients taking PPIs, including rabeprazole. These events have occurred as both new onset and an exacerbation of existing autoimmune disease. The majority of PPI-induced lupus erythematosus cases were CLE.

The most common form of CLE reported in patients treated with PPIs was subacute CLE (SCLE) and occurred within weeks to years after continuous drug therapy in patients ranging from infants to the elderly. Generally, histological findings were observed without organ involvement.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is less commonly reported than CLE in patients receiving PPIs. PPI associated SLE is usually milder than non-drug induced SLE. Onset of SLE typically occurred within days to years after initiating treatment primarily in patients ranging from young adults to the elderly. The majority of patients presented with rash; however, arthralgia and cytopenia were also reported.

Avoid administration of PPIs for longer than medically indicated. If signs or symptoms consistent with CLE or SLE are noted in patients receiving ACIPHEX Sprinkle, discontinue the drug and refer the patient to the appropriate specialist for evaluation. Most patients improve with discontinuation of the PPI alone in 4 to 12 weeks. Serological testing (e.g. ANA) may be positive and elevated serological test results may take longer to resolve than clinical manifestations.

5.7 Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12) Deficiency

Daily treatment with any acid-suppressing medications over a long period of time (e.g., longer than 3 years) may lead to malabsorption of cyanocobalamin (vitamin B-12) caused by hypo- or achlorhydria. Rare reports of cyanocobalamin deficiency occurring with acid-suppressing therapy have been reported in the literature. This diagnosis should be considered if clinical symptoms consistent with cyanocobalamin deficiency are observed in patients treated with ACIPHEX Sprinkle.

5.8 Hypomagnesemia

Hypomagnesemia, symptomatic and asymptomatic, has been reported rarely in adult patients treated with PPIs for at least three months, in most cases after a year of therapy. Serious adverse events include tetany, arrhythmias, and seizures. In most patients, treatment of hypomagnesemia required magnesium replacement and discontinuation of the PPI.

For patients expected to be on prolonged treatment or who take PPIs with medications such as digoxin or drugs that may cause hypomagnesemia (e.g., diuretics), healthcare professionals may consider monitoring magnesium levels prior to initiation of PPI treatment and periodically [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)].

ACIPHEX Sprinkle is indicated for short-term treatment of up to 12 weeks. Treatment for longer than 12 weeks is not recommended.

5.9 Interaction with Methotrexate

Literature suggests that concomitant use of PPIs with methotrexate (primarily at high dose; see methotrexate prescribing information) may elevate and prolong serum levels of methotrexate and/or its metabolite, possibly leading to methotrexate toxicities. In high-dose methotrexate administration, a temporary withdrawal of the PPI may be considered in some patients [see Drug Interactions (7)].

5.10 Fundic Gland Polyps

PPI use is associated with an increased risk of fundic gland polyps that increases with long-term use, especially beyond one year. Most PPI users who developed fundic gland polyps were asymptomatic and fundic gland polyps were identified incidentally on endoscopy. Use the shortest duration of PPI therapy appropriate to the condition being treated.

The following serious adverse reactions are described below and elsewhere in labeling:

• Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]
• Clostridium difficile-Associated Diarrhea [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)]
• Bone Fracture [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5)]
• Cutaneous and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
• Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B-12) Deficiency [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7)]
• Hypomagnesemia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
• Fundic Gland Polyps [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10)]

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

The efficacy of ACIPHEX Sprinkle was established in a two-part, randomized, multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group study of 127 pediatric patients 1 to 11 years of age with a history of at least one GERD symptom within the 3 months before screening and a positive esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD; Hetzel-Dent Endoscopic Classification System, Grade ≥1 and Histological Features of Reflux Esophagitis Scale, Grade >0). The two-part study consisted of a 12-week treatment period in patients with endoscopically-proven GERD followed by a 24-week, double-blinded extension study. Subjects had a mean age of 6 years (range: 1 to 11 years) and 44% (56/127) were female and 56% (71/127) were male. Of the 127 subjects enrolled, 78% (99/127) were white, 10% (13/127) were black, and 2% (3/127) were Asian.

In the study, patients less than 15 kg body weight received either 5 mg or 10 mg ACIPHEX Sprinkle and patients 15 kg or greater body weight received 10 mg ACIPHEX Sprinkle. In this study, some patients were treated for 36 weeks. The most common adverse reactions leading to discontinuation were vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and nausea. The most common adverse reactions from the first 12 weeks of treatment are listed in Table 1.

Table 1. Common Adverse Reactions* in Pediatric Study (Ages 1 To 11 Years First 12 Weeks of Treatment):

^* incidence of adverse reactions ≥9%

The safety profile was similar for those patients who received treatment for up to 36 weeks.

h3.Adults and Adolescents Experience with Other Rabeprazole Formulations

The data described below reflect exposure to rabeprazole sodium delayed-release tablets in 1064 adult patients exposed for up to 8 weeks. The studies were primarily placebo- and active-controlled trials in adult patients with Erosive or Ulcerative Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Duodenal Ulcers and Gastric Ulcers. The population had a mean age of 53 years (range 18-89 years) and had a ratio of approximately 60% male: 40% female. The racial distribution was 86% Caucasian, 8% African American, 2% Asian, and 5% other. Most patients received either 10 mg, 20 mg, or 40 mg per day of rabeprazole.

An analysis of adverse reactions appearing in ≥2% of rabeprazole-treated patients (n=1064) and with a greater frequency than placebo (n=89) in controlled North American and European acute treatment trials, revealed the following adverse reactions: pain (3% vs. 1%), pharyngitis (3% vs. 2%), flatulence (3% vs. 1%), infection (2% vs. 1%), and constipation (2% vs. 1%).

Other adverse reactions seen in controlled clinical trials, which do not meet the above criteria (≥2% of rabeprazole-treated patients and greater than placebo) and for which there is a possibility of a causal relationship to rabeprazole, include the following: headache, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dry mouth, dizziness, peripheral edema, hepatic enzyme increase, hepatitis, hepatic encephalopathy, myalgia, and arthralgia.

In a multicenter, open-label study of adolescent patients 12 to 16 years of age with a clinical diagnosis of symptomatic GERD or endoscopically proven GERD, the adverse event profile was similar to that of adults. The adverse reactions reported without regard to relationship to rabeprazole that occurred in ≥2% of 111 patients were headache (9.9%), diarrhea (4.5%), nausea (4.5%), vomiting (3.6%), and abdominal pain (3.6%). The related reported adverse reactions that occurred in ≥2% of patients were headache (5.4%) and nausea (1.8%). There were no adverse reactions reported in this study that were not previously observed in adults.

The following adverse reactions have been identified during post approval use of rabeprazole sodium. 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.

Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders: agranulocytosis, hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, pancytopenia, and thrombocytopenia

Ear and Labyrinth Disorders: vertigo

Eye Disorders: blurred vision

Gastrointestinal Disorders: fundic gland polyps

General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: sudden death

Hepatobiliary Disorders: jaundice

Immune System Disorders: anaphylaxis, angioedema, systemic lupus
erythematosus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis (some fatal)

Infections and Infestations: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea

Investigations: Increases in prothrombin time/INR (in patients treated with concomitant warfarin), TSH elevations

Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: hyperammonemia, hypomagnesemia

Musculoskeletal System Disorders: bone fracture, rhabdomyolysis

Nervous System Disorders: coma

Psychiatric Disorders: delirium, disorientation

Renal and Urinary Disorders: interstitial nephritis

Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: interstitial pneumonia

Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: severe dermatologic reactions, including bullous and other drug eruptions of the skin; cutaneous lupus erythematosus, erythema multiforme

Table 2 includes clinically important drug interactions and interaction with diagnostics when administered concomitantly with ACIPHEX Sprinkle and instructions for preventing or managing them.

Consult the labeling of concomitantly used drugs to obtain further information about interactions with PPIs.

Table 2. Clinically Relevant Interactions Affecting Drugs Co-Administered with ACIPHEX Sprinkle and Interactions with Diagnostics:

Risk Summary

There are no available human data on ACIPHEX use in pregnant women to inform the drug associated risk. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated populations are unknown. However, the background risk in the U.S. general population of major birth defects is 2-4% and of miscarriage is 15-20% of clinically recognized pregnancies. No evidence of adverse developmental effects were seen in animal reproduction studies with rabeprazole administered during organogenesis at 13 and 8 times the human area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) at the recommended dose for GERD, in rats and rabbits, respectively [see Data].

Changes in bone morphology were observed in offspring of rats treated with oral doses of a different PPI through most of pregnancy and lactation. When maternal administration was confined to gestation only, there were no effects on bone physeal morphology in the offspring at any age [see Data].

Data

Animal Data

Embryo-fetal developmental studies have been performed in rats at intravenous doses of rabeprazole during organogenesis up to 50 mg/kg/day (plasma AUC of 11.8 µg•hr/mL, about 13 times the adult human exposure at the recommended oral dose for GERD) and rabbits at intravenous doses up to 30 mg/kg/day (plasma AUC of 7.3 µg•hr/mL, about 8 times the adult human exposure at the recommended oral dose for GERD: 20 mg of rabeprazole delayed-release tablets per day) and have revealed no evidence of harm to the fetus due to rabeprazole.

Administration of rabeprazole to rats in late gestation and during lactation at an oral dose of 400 mg/kg/day (about 195 times the adult human oral dose based on mg/m²) resulted in decreases in body weight gain of the pups.

A pre- and postnatal developmental toxicity study in rats with additional endpoints to evaluate bone development was performed with a different PPI at about 3.4 to 57 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis. Decreased femur length, width and thickness of cortical bone, decreased thickness of the tibial growth plate, and minimal to mild bone marrow hypocellularity were noted at doses of this PPI equal to or greater than 3.4 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis. Physeal dysplasia in the femur was also observed in offspring after in utero and lactational exposure to the PPI at doses equal to or greater than 33.6 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis. Effects on maternal bone were observed in pregnant and lactating rats in a pre- and postnatal toxicity study when the PPI was administered at oral doses of 3.4 to 57 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis. When rats were dosed from gestational day 7 through weaning on postnatal day 21, a statistically significant decrease in maternal femur weight of up to 14% (as compared to placebo treatment) was observed at doses equal to or greater than 33.6 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis.

A follow-up developmental toxicity study in rats with further time points to evaluate pup bone development from postnatal day 2 to adulthood was performed with a different PPI at oral doses of 280 mg/kg/day (about 68 times an oral human dose on a body surface area basis) where drug administration was from either gestational day 7 or gestational day 16 until parturition. When maternal administration was confined to gestation only, there were no effects on bone physeal morphology in the offspring at any age.

Risk Summary

Lactation studies have not been conducted to assess the presence of rabeprazole in human milk, the effects of rabeprazole on the breastfed infant, or the effects of rabeprazole on milk production. Rabeprazole is present in rat milk. The development and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for ACIPHEX Sprinkle and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from ACIPHEX Sprinkle or from the underlying maternal condition.

GERD in Pediatric Patients 1 to 11 Years of Age

The use of ACIPHEX Sprinkle for treatment of GERD in pediatric patients 1 to 11 years of age is supported by a randomized, multicenter, double-blind clinical trial which evaluated two dose levels of ACIPHEX Sprinkle in 127 pediatric patients with endoscopic and histologic evidence of GERD prior to study treatment. Dosing was determined by body weight: Patients weighing 6.0 to 14.9 kg received either 5 or 10 mg of ACIPHEX Sprinkle daily and those weighing 15.0 kg or more received 10 or 20 mg of ACIPHEX Sprinkle daily. After 12 weeks of rabeprazole treatment, 81% of patients demonstrated esophageal mucosal healing on endoscopic assessment. In patients who had esophageal mucosal healing at 12 weeks and elected to continue for 24 more weeks of rabeprazole, 90% retained esophageal mucosal healing at 36 weeks. No prespecified formal hypothesis testing for evaluation of efficacy was conducted. The absence of a placebo group does not allow assessment of sustained efficacy through 36 weeks. There were no adverse reactions reported in this study that were not previously observed in adolescents or adults.

Symptomatic GERD in Infants 1 to 11 Months of Age

The use of ACIPHEX Sprinkle is not recommended because studies conducted do not demonstrate efficacy for the treatment of GERD in pediatric patients younger than 1 year of age.

In a randomized, multicenter, placebo-controlled withdrawal trial, infants 1 to 11 months of age with a clinical diagnosis of symptomatic GERD, or suspected or endoscopically proven GERD, were treated up to 8 weeks in two treatment periods. In the first treatment period (open-label), 344 infants received 10 mg of ACIPHEX Sprinkle for up to 3 weeks. Infants with clinical response were then eligible to enter the second treatment period, which was double-blind and randomized. Two hundred sixty-eight infants were randomized to receive either placebo or 5 mg or 10 mg ACIPHEX Sprinkle.

This study did not demonstrate efficacy based on assessment of frequency of regurgitation and weight-for-age Z-score. Adverse reactions that occurred in ≥5% of patients in any treatment group and with a higher rate than placebo included pyrexia (7%) and increased serum gastrin levels (5%). There were no adverse reactions reported in this study that were not previously observed in adolescents and adults.

Neonates <1 Month and Preterm Infants <44 Weeks Corrected Gestational Age

The use of ACIPHEX Sprinkle is not recommended for the treatment of GERD, based on the risk of prolonged acid suppression and lack of demonstrated safety and effectiveness in neonates. Based on population pharmacokinetic analysis, the median (range) for the apparent clearance (CL/F) was 1.05 L/h (0.0543 to 3.44 L/h) in neonates and 4.46 L/h (0.822 to 12.4 L/h) in patients 1 to 11 months of age following once daily administration of oral ACIPHEX Sprinkle.

Juvenile Animal Data

Studies in juvenile and young adult rats and dogs were performed. In juvenile animal studies rabeprazole sodium was administered orally to rats for up to 5 weeks and to dogs for up to 13 weeks, each commencing on Day 7 post-partum and followed by a 13-week recovery period. Rats were dosed at 5, 25, or 150 mg/kg/day and dogs were dosed at 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg/day. The data from these studies were comparable to those reported for young adult animals. Pharmacologically mediated changes, including increased serum gastrin levels and stomach changes, were observed at all dose levels in both rats and dogs. These observations were reversible over the 13-week recovery periods. Although body weights and/or crown-rump lengths were minimally decreased during dosing, no effects on the development parameters were noted in either juvenile rats or dogs.

When juvenile animals were treated for 28 days with a different PPI at doses equal to or greater than 34 times the daily oral human dose on a body surface area basis, overall growth was affected and treatment-related decreases in body weight (approximately 14%) and body weight gain, and decreases in femur weight and femur length were observed.

No studies with ACIPHEX Sprinkle have been conducted in geriatric patients. ACIPHEX Sprinkle is not indicated for use in patients older than 11 years of age.

Administration of rabeprazole sodium delayed-release tablets to adult patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class A and B, respectively) resulted in increased exposure and decreased elimination [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. No dosage adjustment of ACIPHEX Sprinkle is necessary in patients with mild to moderate hepatic impairment. There is no information in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C). Avoid use of ACIPHEX Sprinkle in patients with severe hepatic impairment; however, if treatment is necessary, monitor patients for adverse reactions [see Warnings and Precautions (5), Adverse Reactions (6)].