LOKELMA Powder for oral suspension Ref.[10414] Active ingredients: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate

Source: FDA, National Drug Code (US)  Revision Year: 2020 

4. Contraindications

None.

5. Warnings and Precautions

5.1 Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients with Motility Disorders

Avoid use of LOKELMA in patients with severe constipation, bowel obstruction or impaction, including abnormal post-operative bowel motility disorders, because LOKELMA has not been studied in patients with these conditions and may be ineffective and may worsen gastrointestinal conditions.

5.2 Edema

Each 5 g dose of LOKELMA contains approximately 400 mg of sodium, but the extent of absorption by the patient is unknown. In clinical trials of LOKELMA in patients who were not on dialysis, edema was observed and was generally mild to moderate in severity and was more commonly seen in patients treated with 15 g once daily. Monitor for signs of edema, particularly in patients who should restrict their sodium intake or are prone to fluid overload (e.g., heart failure or renal disease). Advise patients to adjust dietary sodium, if appropriate. Increase the dose of diuretics as needed [see Adverse Reactions (6)].

In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis in which most patients were treated with doses of 5 to 10 g once daily on non-dialysis days, there was no difference in the mean change from baseline in interdialytic weight gain (a measure of fluid retention) between the LOKELMA and placebo groups.

5.3 Hypokalemia in Patients on Hemodialysis

Patients on hemodialysis may be prone to acute illness that can increase the risk of hypokalemia on LOKELMA (e.g., illnesses associated with decreased oral intake, diarrhea). Consider adjusting Lokelma dose based on potassium levels in these settings.

6. Adverse Reactions

The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in the label:

  • Edema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

6.1. Clinical Trials Experience

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

The total exposure to LOKELMA in the safety and efficacy clinical trials of patients not on dialysis with hyperkalemia was 1,760 patients with 652 patients exposed to LOKELMA for at least 6 months and 507 patients exposed for at least one year.

The population (n=1,009) in the placebo-controlled trials included patients aged 22 to 96 years, females (n=454), Caucasians (n=859) and Blacks (n=130). Patients had hyperkalemia in association with comorbid diseases such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus.

In placebo-controlled trials in which patients who were not on dialysis were treated with once daily doses of LOKELMA for up to 28 days, edema was reported in 4.4% of patients receiving 5 g, 5.9% of patients receiving 10 g and 16.1% of patients receiving 15 g LOKELMA compared to 2.4% of patients receiving placebo. In longer-term uncontrolled trials in which most patients were maintained on doses <15 g once daily, adverse reactions of edema (edema, generalized edema and peripheral edema) were reported in 8% to 11% of patients.

Laboratory Abnormalities

In clinical trials in patients who were not on dialysis, 4.1% of LOKELMA-treated patients developed hypokalemia with a serum potassium value less than 3.5 mEq/L, which resolved with dosage reduction or discontinuation of LOKELMA. In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis, 5% of patients developed pre-dialysis hypokalemia (serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L) in both the LOKELMA and placebo groups; 3% and 1% of patients developed a serum potassium <3.0 mEq/L in the LOKELMA and placebo groups, respectively.

7. Drug Interactions

LOKELMA can transiently increase gastric pH. As a result, LOKELMA can change the absorption of co-administered drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility, potentially leading to altered efficacy or safety of these drugs when taken close to the time LOKELMA is administered. In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. LOKELMA is not expected to impact systemic exposure of drugs that do not exhibit pH-dependent solubility and so spacing is not needed if it has been determined that the concomitant medication does not exhibit pH-dependent solubility.

8.1. Pregnancy

Risk Summary

LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug.

8.2. Lactation

Risk Summary

LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to LOKELMA.

8.4. Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

8.5. Geriatric Use

Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of LOKELMA, 58% were age 65 and over, while 25% were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients.

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