Carglumic Acid is a prescription medicine (Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Activator). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Carbaglu
- Drug class
- Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Activator
- Taken
- Oral
- Label
- Recordati Rare Diseases, revised January 25, 2024 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- FDA-approved (2 companies) · details
What it is used for
1. INDICATIONS AND USAGE CARBAGLU is a carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS 1) activator indicated in pediatric and adult patients as: Adjunctive therapy to standard of care for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) deficiency. ( 1.1 ) Maintenance therapy for the treatment of chronic hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency. ( 1.1 ) Adjunctive therapy to standard of care for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to propionic acidemia (PA) or methylmalonic acidemia (MMA). ( 1.2 )
1.1 Acute and Chronic Hyperammonemia due to N‑acetylglutamate Synthase (NAGS) Deficiency CARBAGLU is indicated in adult and pediatric patients as: Adjunctive therapy to standard of care for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency. Maintenance therapy for the treatment of chronic hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency.
1.2 Acute Hyperammonemia due to Propionic Acidemia (PA) or Methylmalonic Acidemia (MMA) CARBAGLU is indicated in adult and pediatric patients as adjunctive therapy to standard of care for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA.
Forms and strengths
3. DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS Tablets for oral suspension: 200 mg of carglumic acid, white, elongated, functionally scored with 3 lines (for splitting into 4 equal portions) and printed "C" on one side. Tablets for oral suspension: 200 mg, functionally scored. ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
4. CONTRAINDICATIONS None None. ( 4 )
Side effects (adverse reactions)
6. ADVERSE REACTIONS NAGS deficiency : Most common adverse reactions (≥13%) are vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia, tonsillitis, anemia, diarrhea, ear infection, infections, nasopharyngitis, hemoglobin decreased, and headache. ( 6.1 ) PA and MMA : Most common adverse reactions (≥5%) are neutropenia, anemia, vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, decreased appetite, hypoglycemia, lethargy/stupor, encephalopathy and pancreatitis/lipase increased. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Recordati Rare Diseases Inc. at 1-888-575-8344, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1 Clinical Trials Experience 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 rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Acute and Chronic Hyperammonemia due to NAGS Deficiency In a retrospective case series of 23 NAGS deficiency patients treated with CARBAGLU, 17 of the 23 patients reported an adverse reaction. The most common adverse reactions (occurring in ≥ 13% of patients) were vomiting, abdominal pain, pyrexia, tonsillitis, anemia, diarrhea, ear infection, infections, nasopharyngitis, hemoglobin decreased, and headache. Table 1 summarizes adverse reactions occurring in 2 or more patients treated with CARBAGLU. Table 1: Adverse Reactions Reported in ≥ 2 Patients with NAGS deficiency Treated with CARBAGLU in the Retrospective Case Series Adverse Reaction Number of Patients (N) (%) Vomiting 6 (26) Abdominal pain 4 (17) Pyrexia 4 (17) Tonsillitis 4 (17) Anemia 3 (13) Diarrhea 3 (13) Ear infection 3 (13) Infections 3 (13) Nasopharyngitis 3 (13) Hemoglobin decreased 3 (13) Headache 3 (13) Dysgeusia 2 (9) Asthenia 2 (9) Hyperhidrosis 2 (9) Influenza 2 (9) Pneumonia 2 (9) Weight decreased 2 (9) Anorexia 2 (9) Somnolence 2 (9) Rash 2 (9) Acute Hyperammonemia due to PA and MMA In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 24 patients (15 with PA and 9 with MMA) experienced a total of 90 hyperammonemic episodes which were randomized 1:1 to be treated with either CARBAGLU or placebo, each in addition to standard-of-care therapy, with randomization based on each hyperammonemic episode. The average patient age (SD) was 9.2 years (7.7) and 12 (50 %) were males. CARBAGLU was administered at a dosage of 150 mg/kg/day for patients ≤15 kg or 3.3 g/m 2 /day for patients >15 kg, divided into 2 doses, for a median duration of 4.14 days. At least 1 adverse reaction was reported during the course of hyperammonemic episodes in 42% of hyperammonemic episodes. The most common adverse reactions (≥5%) during hyperammonemic episodes were neutropenia, anemia, vomiting, electrolyte imbalance, decreased appetite, hypoglycemia, lethargy/stupor, encephalopathy and pancreatitis/lipase increased. Table 2 summarizes adverse reactions (≥2%) during hyperammonemic episodes in patients with PA or MMA treated with CARBAGLU or placebo. Table 2: Adverse Reactions (≥ 2%) During Hyperammonemic Episodes in Patients with PA or MMA Treated with CARBAGLU or Placebo Adverse Reaction Treatment Arm CARBAGLU N=42 episodes PLACEBO N=48 episodes N (%) N (%) Neutropenia 6 (14) 4 (8) Anemia 5 (12) 4 (8) Vomiting 3 (7) 1 (2) Electrolyte imbalance 3 (7) 2 (4) Decreased appetite 2 (5) 1 (2) Hypoglycemia 2 (5) 1 (2) Lethargy/Stupor 2 (5) 1 (2) Encephalopathy 2 (5) 0 (0) Pancreatitis/Lipase increased 2 (5) 0 (0) Cardiomyopathy 1 (2) 0 (0) Alanine aminotransferase increased 1 (2) 0 (0) Aspartate aminotransferase increased 1 (2) 0 (0) Infusion site extravasation 1 (2) 0 (0) White blood cell count increased 1 (2) 0 (0) Behavior disorder 1 (2) 0 (0) Sleep disorder 1 (2) 0 (0) Apnea 1 (2) 0 (0) Hyperventilation 1 (2) 0 (0)
6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during postapproval use of CARBAGLU. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or to establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Psychiatric disorders : mania Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders : pruritus, rash including rash erythematous, rash maculopapular, rash pustular
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
8. USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1 Pregnancy Pregnancy Exposure Registry There is a pregnancy exposure registry that monitors pregnancy outcomes in women with NAGS deficiency exposed to CARBAGLU. If CARBAGLU is administered during pregnancy, health care providers should report CARBAGLU exposure by calling 1-888-575-8344. Risk Summary Although rare case reports of CARBAGLU use in pregnant women are insufficient to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects, miscarriage, or adverse maternal or fetal outcomes, untreated NAGS deficiency, PA and MMA can result in irreversible neurologic damage and death in pregnant women (see Clinical Considerations ). In an animal reproduction study, decreased survival and growth occurred in offspring born to rats that received carglumic acid at a dose approximately 38 times the maximum reported human maintenance dose. The estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, miscarriage, 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. Clinical Considerations Disease-associated maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk Pregnant women with urea cycle disorders, PA, and MMA may experience an increase in catabolic stress which can trigger a hyperammonemic crisis both in the intrapartum and in the post-partum (3-14 days post-partum) periods. Maternal complications related to hyperammonemic crisis can include neurological impairment, coma and in some cases death. Data Animal Data No effects on embryo-fetal development were observed in pregnant rats treated with up to 2000 mg/kg/day (approximately 38 times the maximum reported human maintenance dose [100 mg/kg/day] based on AUC [area under the plasma concentration-time curve]) from two weeks prior to mating through organogenesis or in pregnant rabbits treated with up to 1000 mg/kg/day (approximately 6 times the maximum reported human maintenance dose [100 mg/kg/day] based on AUC) during organogenesis. In a pre- and post-natal developmental study, female rats received oral carglumic acid from organogenesis through lactation at doses of 500 mg/kg/day and 2000 mg/kg/day. Decreased growth of offspring was observed at 500 mg/kg/day and higher (approximately 38 times the maximum reported human maintenance dose [100 mg/kg/day] based on AUC), and reduction in offspring survival during lactation was observed at 2000 mg/kg/day (approximately 38 times the maximum reported human maintenance dose [100 mg/kg/day] based on AUC). No effects on physical and sexual development, learning and memory, or reproductive performance were observed through maturation of the surviving offspring at maternal doses up to 2000 mg/kg/day. The high dose (2000 mg/kg/day) produced maternal toxicity (impaired weight gain and approximately 10% mortality).
8.2 Lactation Risk Summary It is not known whether carglumic acid is present in human milk. There are no available data on the effects of carglumic acid on the breastfed infant or the effects on milk production. Carglumic acid is present in milk from treated rats. When a drug is present in animal milk, it is likely that the drug will be present in human milk. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother's clinical need for CARBAGLU and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed child from CARBAGLU or from the underlying maternal condition.
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of CARBAGLU for the treatment of pediatric patients (birth to 17 years of age) with acute or chronic hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency and acute hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA have been established, and the information on these uses are discussed throughout the labeling. There are insufficient data to determine if there is a difference in clinical or biochemical responses between adult and pediatric patients treated with CARBAGLU.
8.5 Geriatric Use Clinical studies of CARBAGLU did not include patients 65 years of age and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger patients.
8.6 Renal Impairment Plasma concentrations of carglumic acid increased in patients with renal impairment [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Reduce the CARBAGLU dosage in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ]. The pharmacokinetics of carglumic acid have not been evaluated in patients with end stage renal disease.
How it works
Carglumic acid is a synthetic structural analogue of N-acetylglutamate (NAG) which is produced from glutamate and acetyl-CoA in a reaction catalyzed by N‑acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS), a mitochondrial liver enzyme. NAG acts as the essential allosteric activator of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS 1), a mitochondrial liver enzyme which catalyzes the first reaction of the urea cycle. The urea cycle, whose role is the disposition of ammonia, includes a series of biochemical reactions in the liver resulting in the conversion of ammonia into urea, which is then excreted through the urine. Carglumic acid acts as a CPS1 activator, improves or restores the function of the urea cycle, and facilitates ammonia detoxification and urea production.
Is there a generic Carglumic Acid?
Yes. The FDA has approved generic Carglumic Acid from 2 companies whose approvals are active. The earliest of these was approved in 2021.
An FDA approval does not always mean the generic is already in pharmacies: patent disputes and settlements can delay a launch for years. Your pharmacist can tell you whether a generic is actually available and covered by your plan.
The FDA rates these generics as therapeutically equivalent to the brand ("A" rating): same active ingredient, strength, dosage form and effect. Pharmacists can usually substitute them unless the prescriber says otherwise.
Companies with an approved generic
Navinta Llc, Novitium Pharma
Brand-name versions
- Carbaglu Recordati Rare, approved 2010
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
Carglumic acid in the news
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Recalls
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 10175e73-5172-4dde-a508-8a88b7afc0a1.