Drug Reference

Carglumic Acid

Amino acids and derivatives

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Therapeutic class
Amino acids and derivatives
Action class
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Activator
Mechanism
Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase 1 Activators
Habit forming
No
Availability
Prescription (Rx)

Brand names

Carbaglu

Available as

200 MG · Oral Suspension

FDA label sections are from openFDA and may not reflect the most recent labeling — confirm against the current DailyMed label.

Uses
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.
How it works
12.1 Mechanism of Action 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.
How to use / dosing
2. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Acute Hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency ( 2.2 ) The recommended dosage in adult and pediatric patients is 100 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg orally daily. Divide the daily dosage into 2 to 4 doses. Chronic Hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency ( 2.2 ) The recommended dosage in adult and pediatric patients is 10 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg orally daily. Divide the daily dosage into 2 to 4 doses. Therapeutic Monitoring for NAGS Deficiency ( 2.2 ) Closely monitor plasma ammonia and titrate dosage to maintain the ammonia level within normal range for the patient's age, taking into consideration their clinical condition. Acute Hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA ( 2.3 ) The recommended dosage in adult and pediatric patients is: 150 mg/kg orally daily for patients less than or equal to 15 kg 3.3 g/m 2 orally daily for patients greater than 15 kg Divide the daily dosage into 2 doses. Continue treatment until ammonia level is less than 50 micromol/L and for a maximum duration of 7 days. Patients with Renal Impairment ( 2.4 ) See Full Prescribing Information for Instructions on Dosage Adjustment. Preparation and Administration ( 2.5 ) Disperse CARBAGLU tablets in water. Do not swallow whole or crushed. Take immediately before meals or feedings. For additional instructions on preparation and administration orally or through a nasogastric tube or gastrostomy tube, see Full Prescribing Information. 2.1 Important Administration Instructions Disperse CARBAGLU tablets in water. Do not swallow whole or crush [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . CARBAGLU may be administered by mouth or via a nasogastric or gastrostomy tube [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Acute or Chronic Hyperammonemia due to NAGS Deficiency Treatment Initiation Initiate CARBAGLU treatment as soon as the diagnosis of NAGS deficiency is suspected, which may be as soon as at birth, and supervised by a healthcare provider experienced in the treatment of metabolic disorders. Dosage for Acute Hyperammonemia due to NAGS Deficiency The recommended dosage of CARBAGLU in adult and pediatric patients for acute hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency is (based on actual body weight) 100 mg/kg to 250 mg/kg orally daily. Divide the daily dosage into 2 to 4 doses and round to the nearest 100 mg (i.e., half of a CARBAGLU tablet). During acute hyperammonemic episodes, administer CARBAGLU with other ammonia lowering therapies, such as alternate pathway medications, hemodialysis, and protein restriction. Dosage for Chronic Hyperammonemia due to NAGS Deficiency The recommended dosage of CARBAGLU in adult and pediatric patients for chronic hyperammonemia due to NAGS deficiency is (based on actual body weight) 10 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg orally daily. Divide the daily dosage into 2 to 4 doses and round to the nearest 100 mg (i.e., half of a CARBAGLU tablet). During maintenance therapy, the concomitant use of other ammonia lowering therapies and protein restriction may be needed based on plasma ammonia levels. Therapeutic Monitoring Closely monitor plasma ammonia levels. Titrate the CARBAGLU dosage to maintain the plasma ammonia level within the normal range for the patient's age, taking into consideration their clinical condition (e.g., nutritional requirements, protein intake, growth parameters, etc.). Adjust the recommended dosage in patients with moderate or severe renal impairment [see Dosage and Administration (2.4) ] . 2.3 Recommended Dosage for Acute Hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA Treatment Initiation Initiate CARBAGLU for the treatment of acute hyperammonemia in patients with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of PA or MMA. Dosage for Acute Hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA The recommended dosage of CARBAGLU in adult and pediatric patients with acute hyperammonemia due to PA or MMA is (based on actual body weight): 150 mg/kg orally daily for patients less than or equal to 15 kg 3.3 g/m 2 orally daily for patients greater than 15 kg Divide the daily do
Side effects
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 uncert

Safety advice

Conservative summary derived from FDA labeling — defaults to “consult your doctor” unless the label is explicit. Not a substitute for your clinician’s advice.

PregnancyUnsafe
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
BreastfeedingConsult your doctor
…female rats received oral carglumic acid from organogenesis through lactation at doses of 500 mg/kg/day and 2000 mg/kg/day.…
AlcoholNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
DrivingNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
KidneyConsult your doctor
…Patients with Renal Impairment ( 2.4 ) See Full Prescribing Information for Instructions on Dosage Adjustment.…
LiverNo information
No specific information in the FDA label.
Contraindications
4. CONTRAINDICATIONS None None. ( 4 )

Pediatric use

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.

⚑ About half of pediatric medication use is off-label and not described in FDA labels — absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children. Confirm with your clinician.

Overdose
10. OVERDOSAGE One patient treated with 650 mg/kg/day of CARBAGLU developed symptoms resembling monosodium glutamate intoxication-like syndrome and characterized by tachycardia, profuse sweating, increased bronchial secretions, increased body temperature, and restlessness. These symptoms resolved upon reduction of the dose.
Current FDA labels (DailyMed)

2 marketed products on record (RxNorm)

Reference only — not clinical advice. Verify against current FDA labeling and consult a licensed provider. About half of pediatric drug use is off-label and is not reflected in FDA labels; absence of pediatric information does not mean a medicine is unused or unsafe in children.