Sucroferric Oxyhydroxide

Velphoro is indicated for the control of serum phosphorus levels in adults and pediatric patients 9 years of age and older with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis. Velphoro is a phosphate binder indicated for the control of serum phosphorus levels in adult and pediatric patients 9 years of age and older with chronic kidney disease on dialysis. ( 1 )

Velphoro is supplied in a strength of 500 mg as a brown, circular, bi-planar chewable tablet embossed with "PA 500" on one side. Each chewable tablet contains 500 mg iron (equivalent to 2,500 mg sucroferric oxyhydroxide). Velphoro chewable tablet 500 mg ( 3 )

None. None ( 4 )

Patients with peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis, significant gastric or hepatic disorders, history of recent major gastrointestinal surgery, or with a history of hemochromatosis or other diseases with iron accumulation have not been included in clinical studies with Velphoro. Monitor effect and iron homeostasis in such patients. ( 5.1 )

5.1 Monitoring in Patients with Gastrointestinal Disorders or Iron Accumulation Disorders Each chewable tablet contains 500 mg iron (equivalent to 2,500 mg sucroferric oxyhydroxide) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Patients with peritonitis during peritoneal dialysis, significant gastric or hepatic disorders, following major gastrointestinal (GI) surgery, or with a history of hemochromatosis or other diseases with iron accumulation have not been included in clinical studies with Velphoro. Monitor effect and iron homeostasis in such patients.

The most common adverse drug reactions to Velphoro chewable tablets in clinical trials were discolored feces (12%) and diarrhea (6%). ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Fresenius Medical Care Renal Therapies Group, LLC at 1-800-323-5188 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .

6.1 Clinical Trial Experience Adult Patients 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. The safety data derived from Velphoro clinical trials reflect exposure to Velphoro in 2 active-controlled clinical studies involving a total of 778 adult patients on hemodialysis and 57 adult patients on peritoneal dialysis exposed for up to 55 weeks. Dosage regimens ranged from 250 mg to 3,000 mg per day. In a parallel design, dose-finding study of Velphoro with a treatment duration of 6 weeks in hemodialysis patients, adverse reactions for Velphoro (N=128) were similar to those reported for the active-control group (sevelamer hydrochloride) (N=26), with the exception of discolored feces (12%) which did not occur in the active-control group. Diarrhea was reported in 6% of patients treated with Velphoro. In a 55-week, open-label, active-controlled, parallel design, safety and efficacy study involving 968 hemodialysis patients and 86 peritoneal dialysis patients treated with either Velphoro (N=707 including 57 peritoneal dialysis patients) or the active-control (sevelamer carbonate) (N=348 including 29 peritoneal dialysis patients), adverse reactions occurring in more than 5% in the Velphoro group were diarrhea (24%), discolored feces (16%), and nausea (10%). The majority of diarrhea events in the Velphoro group were mild and transient, occurring soon after initiation of treatment, and resolving with continued treatment. Adverse reactions occurred at similar rates in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. The most common adverse reactions (>1%) leading to withdrawal were diarrhea (4%), product taste abnormal (2%), and nausea (2%). Pediatric Patients In an open-label, randomized study, with a 10-week dose titration period and 24-week safety extension, 60 patients 6 to 18 years of age received at least one dose of Velphoro, including 30 patients (50%) exposed for at least 19 weeks [see Clinical Studies (14.3) ] . The safety profile of Velphoro in pediatric patients was similar to that observed in adult patients. Velphoro is not approved in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 9 years of age because of the lack of an appropriate dosage strength.

6.2 Postmarketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been identified during post-approval use of Velphoro that are not included in other sections of labeling. 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. Gastrointestinal Disorders: tooth discoloration Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: rash

Table 1 Oral drugs that can be administered concomitantly with Velphoro Calcitriol Ciprofloxacin Digoxin Enalapril Furosemide HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors Hydrochlorothiazide Losartan Metoprolol Nifedipine Omeprazole Quinidine Warfarin Oral drugs that are to be separated from Velphoro Dosing Recommendations Doxycycline Acetylsalicylic acid Cephalexin Take at least 1 hour before Velphoro. Levothyroxine Take at least 4 hours before Velphoro Oral medications not listed in Table 1 There are no empirical data on avoiding drug interactions between Velphoro and most concomitant oral drugs. For oral medications where a reduction in the bioavailability of that medication would have a clinically significant effect on its safety or efficacy, consider separating the administration of the two drugs. The necessary separation depends upon the absorption characteristics of the medication concomitantly administered, such as the time to reach peak systemic levels and whether the drug is an immediate-release or an extended-release product. Where possible, consider monitoring for clinical response and/or blood levels of concomitant medications that have a narrow therapeutic range. Velphoro can be administered concomitantly with oral calcitriol, ciprofloxacin, digoxin, enalapril, furosemide, HMG‑CoA reductase inhibitors, hydrochlorothiazide, losartan, metoprolol, nifedipine, omeprazole, quinidine and warfarin. ( 7 ) Take acetylsalicylic acid, cephalexin and doxycycline at least 1 hour before Velphoro. ( 7 ) Take levothyroxine at least 4 hours before Velphoro. ( 7 ) For oral medications not listed above where a reduction of bioavailability would be clinically significant consider separation of the timing of administration. Consider monitoring clinical responses or blood levels of the concomitant medication ( 7 )

8.1 Pregnancy Velphoro is not systemically absorbed following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug. Data Animal Data In pregnant rats given up to 800 mg/kg/day Velphoro by oral gavage from Days 6 to 17 post-mating, no embryo-fetal development toxicity was observed. This dose corresponds to 16 times the maximum recommended clinical dose. In pregnant rabbits given 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg/day Velphoro by oral gavage, from Days 6 to 19 post-mating, the number of fetuses with incomplete/unossified epiphyses and metacarpals/phalanges was increased at the highest dose (corresponding to 4 times the recommended maximum clinical dose). Litter parameters were not adversely affected. In pregnant rats given Velphoro at 100, 280, or 800 mg/kg/day by oral gavage from Day 6 post-mating to lactation Day 20, offspring body weight gain was lower at age 5-13 weeks and neuromuscular function was delayed at the dose of 800 mg/kg/day. This dose represented 16 times the maximum recommended clinical dose.

8.2 Lactation Velphoro is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to Velphoro.

8.4 Pediatric Use Velphoro is indicated for the control of serum phosphorus levels in pediatric patients 9 years of age and older with CKD on dialysis. Use of Velphoro for this indication is supported by evidence from an adequate and well-controlled study in adults, with additional pharmacodynamic and safety data in pediatric patients with advanced CKD (an estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m 2 or CKD on dialysis) [see Adverse Reactions (6.1) and Clinical Studies (14.3) ] . The safety and effectiveness of Velphoro have been established for the control of serum phosphorus levels in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 9 years of age with CKD on dialysis, but Velphoro is not approved in pediatric patients 6 years to less than 9 years of age because of the lack of an appropriate dosage strength. The safety and effectiveness of Velphoro have not been established in pediatric patients younger than 6 years of age. Although the study included six patients 2 to <6 years of age who received Velphoro, based on the available data, it is unclear whether the dosing regimen that was evaluated is effective in reducing serum phosphorus in this age group. Velphoro has not been studied in pediatric patients below 2 years of age.

8.5 Geriatric Use Of the total number of subjects in two active-controlled clinical studies of Velphoro (N=835), 29.7% (n=248) were 65 and over, while 8.7% (n=73) were aged 75 years and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these subjects and younger subjects.

In the aqueous environment of the GI tract, phosphate binding takes place by ligand exchange between hydroxyl groups and/or water in sucroferric oxyhydroxide and the phosphate in the diet. The bound phosphate is eliminated with feces. Both serum phosphorus levels and calcium-phosphorus product levels are reduced as a consequence of the reduced dietary phosphate absorption.