PANCREAZE is a combination of porcine-derived lipases, proteases, amylases indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis or other conditions.

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37,000 LIPASE UNIT DOSE AVAILABLE.
Try the Pancreaze dosing calculator.
37,000 LIPASE UNIT DOSE AVAILABLE.
Try the Pancreaze dosing calculator.

Consider EPI in your assessment of GI symptoms

EPI is largely a clinical diagnosis3,5

If a patient presents with one or more of the following, consider pancreatic enzyme insufficiency in your diagnosis.

  • Abdominal Pain
  • Flatulence
  • Steatorrhea
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea

According to the AGA’s 2023 Clinical Practice Update Expert Review and Best Practice Advice, the clinical features of EPI include steatorrhea with or without diarrhea, weight loss, bloating, excessive flatulence, fat-soluble vitamin deficiencies, and protein-calorie malnutrition.4

“EPI is frequently underdiagnosed and, as a result, patients are often not treated appropriately. There is an urgent need to increase awareness of and treatment for this condition.”

American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)

November 2023

EPI and other chronic GI conditions

Patients with EPI may present with
symptoms similar to those of other GI conditions.5

As outlined in the chart below, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) can be prevalent in patients with predisposing conditions and its symptoms can be similar to those of other GI conditions.

Please Note: The symptom and prevalence information presented here is intended for discussion purposes only and is not intended to be used as a substitute for a healthcare professional’s medical expertise and judgment to diagnose, treat, or care for any particular patient.

EPI Shared Symptom Discussion Guide EPI Shared Symptom Discussion Guide

Download a Discussion Guide PDF with this data.

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EPI can be associated with other conditions4,5

In addition to high prevalence in patients with with Chronic Pancreatitis (CP), Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic cancer, EPI may also coexist with Type 1 and 2 Diabetes, duodenal diseases or in patients who have undergone specific surgical procedures.

Click here to review the estimated prevalence of EPI by condition and surgical procedure

Real patient perspectives — the path to EPI diagnosis‡

 

In a recent online survey, patients reported that before being diagnosed with EPI, their most troublesome symptoms were: diarrhea, stomach pain, oily stools and gas. Prior to their EPI diagnosis:

38%

Worried about interruptions from urgent, unpredictable symptoms

39%

Reported being upset not knowing what was causing their symptoms

‡PANCREAZE Patient Survey: Online survey conducted in January 2023. Responses from 133 EPI patients and caregivers of patients with EPI. Respondents were not remunerated for their participation in the survey.

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EPI Prevalence
and Predisposing
Conditions

The prevalence of EPI can be quite high among certain subgroups of individuals.5

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Patient
Savings and
Support

PANCREAZE Engage offers a comprehensive collection of savings and support.

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Available
in a 37,000
Unit Dose

PANCREAZE 37,000 can be a convenient, appropriate dose for many EPI patients.

VIEW DOSING GUIDE

Learn more and access the following:

 

PANCREAZE HCP Resource Center

Request materials, a rep call, or order samples of the 37,000 unit dose

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Indication

PANCREAZE is indicated for the treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis or other conditions.

Important Safety Information

Fibrosing colonopathy is associated with high-dose use of pancreatic enzyme replacement. Exercise caution when doses of PANCREAZE (pancrelipase) exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg body weight per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg body weight per day).

Hyperuricemia may develop. Consider monitoring uric acid levels in patients with hyperuricemia, gout, or renal impairment.

To avoid irritation of oral mucosa, do not chew PANCREAZE or retain in the mouth.

There is theoretical risk of viral transmission with all pancreatic enzyme products including PANCREAZE. Although it has never been reported, it may be possible for a person to get a viral infection from taking pancreatic enzyme products that come from pigs.

Exercise caution when administering pancrelipase to a patient with a known allergy to proteins of porcine origin.

Most common adverse reactions are: abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea, abnormal feces, and fatigue.

PANCREAZE is not interchangeable with any other pancrelipase products.

Dosing should not exceed the recommended maximum dosage set forth by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Consensus Conferences Guidelines.

Please read the PANCREAZE Medication Guide and PANCREAZE Product Information.

References: 1. PANCREAZE Full Prescribing Information. Campbell, CA: VIVUS LLC; 2022. 2. Trapnell BC, et al. Efficacy and safety of PANCREAZE for treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency due to cystic fibrosis. J Cyst Fibros. 011;10(5):350-356. 3. Fieker A, Philpott J, Armand M. Enzyme replacement therapy for pancreatic insufficiency: present and future. Clin Exp Gastroenterol. 2011;4:55-73. 4. Whitcomb, DC, Buchner, AM, Forsmark, CE. AGA Clinical Practice Update on the Epidemiology, Evaluation, and Management of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency: Expert Review. Gastroenterology. 2023;165:1292–1301. 5. Othman MO, Harb D, Barkin JA. Introduction and practical approach to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency for the practicing clinician. Int J Clin Pract. 2018;72:e13066. 6. Crohns and Colitis Foundation (n.d). IBS vs IBD. Retrieved from https:/www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-ibd/ibs-vs-ibd 7. Crohns and Colitis Foundation (n.d). Signs and Symptoms of Crohn’s Disease. Retrieved from https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-crohns-disease/symptoms 8. Kaitha S, Bashir M, Ali T. Iron deficiency anemia in inflammatory bowel disease. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2015 August 15; 6(3): 62-72. 9. Perler et al. Presenting symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease: descriptive analysis of a community-based inception cohort. BMC Gastroenterology (2019); 19:47. 10. Fousekis FS, Theopistos VI, Katsanos KH, Christodoulou DK. Pancreatic Involvement in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Review. J Clin Med Res. 2018;10(10):743-751. 11. Crohns and Colitis Foundation (n.d). Signs and Symptoms of Ulcerative Colitis. Retrieved from https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/what-is-ulcerative-colitis/symptoms 12. Freeman HJ. Iron deficiency anemia in celiac disease. World J Gastroenterol. 2015 August 21; 21(31):9233-9238. 13. Zaidel O, Lin HC. Uninvited Guests: The Impact of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth on Nutritional Status. Practical Gastroenterology. 2013; Nutrition Issues in Gastroenterology, Series #7: 23-34. 14. Struyvenberg MR, Martin CR, Freedman SD. Practical guide to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency – Breaking the myths. BMC Med. 2017; 15(1): 29. 15. Al-Kaade S (2020, February 3). What causes anemia in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI)? Medscape. Retrieved from https://www.medscape.com/answers/2121028-18736/what-causes-anemia-in-exocrinepancreatic-insufficiency-epi 16. Vujasinovic M, Valente R, Thorell A, Rutkowski W, Haas SL, Arnelo U, Martin L, Löhr JM. Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency after Bariatric Surgery. Nutrients. 2017 Nov 13;9(11):1241. 17. Uribarri-Gonzalez L, Nieto-García L, Martis-Sueiro A, Dominguez-Muñoz JE. Exocrine pancreatic function and dynamic of digestion after restrictive and malabsorptive bariatric surgery: a prospective, cross-sectional, and comparative study. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2021 Oct;17(10):1766-1772. 18. The National Pancreas Foundation (n.d.). Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI). Retrieved from https://pancreasfoundation.org/patient-information/ailments-pancreas/exocrine-pancreatic-insufficiency-epi/ 19. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. (n.d.). Phthalates. Retrieved from https://www.cff.org/phthalates. 20. CREON® Full Prescribing Information. Chicago, IL: Abvie, Inc; 2023. 21. PERTZYE® Full Prescribing Information. Bethlehem, PA: Digestive Care, Inc; 2022. 22. VIOKACE™ Full Prescribing Information. Birmingham, AL: Allergan USA, Inc; 2012. 23. ZENPEP® Full Prescribing Information. Bridgewater, NJ: Aimmune Therapeutics, Inc; 2023. 24. Borowitz DS, et al. the Consensus Committee. Use of pancreatic enzyme supplements for patients with cystic fibrosis in the context of fibrosing colonopathy. J Pediatr. 1995; 127:681-84.

Important Safety Information

Fibrosing colonopathy is associated with high-dose use of pancreatic enzyme replacement. Exercise caution when doses of PANCREAZE (pancrelipase) exceed 2,500 lipase units/kg body weight per meal (or greater than 10,000 lipase units/kg body weight per day).

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