Cholic Acid

Brand Names: Cholbam

Drug Class: Bile Acid

Overview

11 DESCRIPTION Cholic acid is a bile acid. The chemical formula is C 24 H 40 O 5 , the molecular weight is 408.57 and the chemical structure is: Cholic acid is a white to off-white powder. It is practically insoluble in water and in 0.1 M HCl at 20°C and is sparingly soluble in 0.1 M NaOH at 20°C. It is soluble in glacial acetic acid, alcohols, and acetone.

Mechanism of Action

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY 12.1 Mechanism of Action Cholic acid is a primary bile acid synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. In bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs in the biosynthetic pathway, and in PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders, deficiency of primary bile acids leads to unregulated accumulation of intermediate bile acids and cholestasis. Bile acids facilitate fat digestion and absorption by forming mixed micelles and facilitate absorption of fat-soluble vitamins in the intestine. Endogenous bile acids including cholic acid enhance bile flow and provide the physiologic feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis.

Indications

  • 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE CHOLBAM is a bile acid indicated for: • Treatment of bile acid synthesis disorders due to single enzyme defects (SEDs). ( 1.1 ) • Adjunctive treatment of peroxisomal disorders (PDs) including Zellweger spectrum disorders in patients who exhibit manifestations of liver disease, steatorrhea or complications from decreased fat-soluble vitamin absorption. ( 1.2 ) Limitations of use: The safety and effectiveness of CHOLBAM on extrahepatic manifestations of bile acid synthesis disorders due to SEDs or PDs including Zellweger spectrum disorders have not been established. ( 1.

Common Doses

  • 15 mg
  • 17 mg
  • 10 mg
  • 50 mg

Dosage

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • The recommended dosage is 10 to 15 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses, in pediatric patients and adults. See prescribing information for weight-based dosing tables. ( 2.1 ) • The recommended dosage in patients with concomitant familial hypertriglyceridemia is 11 to 17 mg/kg once daily or in two divided doses and is adjusted based on clinical response. ( 2.1 ) • Monitor AST, ALT, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, bilirubin and INR every month for the first 3 months, every 3 months for the next 9 months, every 6 months during the next three years and annually...

Contraindications

  • 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None ( 4 )

Side Effects

  • 6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reaction is described elsewhere in the labeling: • Exacerbation of Liver Impairment [see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 )] Most common adverse reactions (≥1%) are diarrhea, reflux esophagitis, malaise, jaundice, skin lesion, nausea, abdominal pain, intestinal polyp, urinary tract infection, and peripheral neuropathy. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mirum Pharmaceuticals at 1-855-MRM-4YOU or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch . 6.

Interactions

  • 7 DRUG INTERACTIONS • Bile Salt Efflux Pump (BSEP) Inhibitors (e.g., cyclosporine): Avoid concomitant use; if concomitant use is necessary, monitor serum transaminases and bilirubin ( 7.1 ) • Bile Acid Resins and Aluminum-Based Antacids: Take CHOLBAM at least 1 hour before or 4 to 6 hours (or at as great an interval as possible) after a bile acid binding resin or aluminum-based antacids. ( 2.3 , 7.1 ) 7.1. Effects of Other Drugs on CHOLBAM Drug interactions with CHOLBAM mainly relate to agents capable of interrupting the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids.