CYSTADANE - betaine powder, for solution 
Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc.

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CYSTADANE
(betaine anhydrous)
for oral solution

INDICATIONS AND USAGE

Cystadane (betaine anhydrous for oral solution) is indicated for the treatment of homocystinuria to decrease elevated homocysteine blood levels. Included within the category of homocystinuria are deficiencies or defects in:

  1. cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS)
  2. 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)
  3. cobalamin cofactor metabolism (cbl)

Patient response to Cystadane can be monitored by homocysteine plasma levels [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (2)]. Response usually occurs within a week and steady state within a month. Cystadane has been administered concomitantly with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), vitamin B12 (cobalamin), and folate.

DOSAGE and ADMINISTRATION

The usual dosage used in adult and pediatric patients is 6 grams per day administered orally in divided doses of 3 grams two times per day. Dosages of up to 20 grams per day have been necessary to control homocysteine levels in some patients. In pediatric patients less than 3 years of age, dosage may be started at 100 mg/kg/day and then increased weekly by 50 mg/kg increments. In one study by Matthews, et al., pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic simulation indicated minimal benefit from exceeding a twice daily dosing schedule and a 150 mg/kg/day dosage for betaine [See REFERENCES (15)]. Dosage in all patients can be gradually increased until plasma total homocysteine is undetectable or present only in small amounts. Plasma methionine concentrations should be monitored in patients with CBS-deficiency. [See PRECAUTIONS: Hypermethioninemia (5.2)].

The prescribed amount of Cystadane (betaine anhydrous for oral solution) should be measured with the measuring scoop provided (one level 1.7 cc scoop is equal to 1 gram of betaine anhydrous powder) and then dissolved in 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 mL) of water, juice, milk, or formula, or mixed with food for immediate ingestion.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Cystadane is a white, granular, hygroscopic powder. It contains no ingredients other than anhydrous betaine.

Contraindications

None.

Warnings and Precautions

General

Therapy with Cystadane should be directed by physicians knowledgeable in the management of patients with homocystinuria.

Hypermethioninemia

Patients with Homocystinuria due to cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency may also have elevated plasma methionine concentrations. Treatment with Cystadane may further increase methionine concentrations due to the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Cerebral edema has been reported in patients with hypermethioninemia, including a few patients treated with Cystadane. Plasma methionine concentrations should be monitored in patients with CBS deficiency. Plasma methionine concentrations should be kept below 1,000 μmol/L through dietary modification and, if necessary, a reduction of Cystadane dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In a clinical trial of 207 patients treated with nitisinone for HT-1, the most frequent adverse effects, regardless of causality assessment, occurred in the following organ systems:

Liver and Biliary System:hepatic neoplasm 8%, liver failure 7%.

Visual System:conjunctivitis 2%, corneal opacity 2%, keratitis 2%, photophobia 2%, blepharitis 1%, eye pain 1%, cataracts 1%.

Hemic and Lymphatic:thrombocytopenia 3%, leucopenia 3%, porphyria 1%, epistaxis 1%.

Skin and Appendages:pruritis 1%, exfoliative dermatitis 1%, dry skin 1%, maculopapular rash 1%, alopecia 1%.


Adverse reactions that occurred in less than 1% of the patients, regardless of causality assessment, are:

Body as a Whole:death.

Nervous System:seizures, brain tumor, encephalopathy, headache, hyperkinesia.

Cardiovascular:cyanosis.

Digestive System:abdominal pain, diarrhea, enanthema, gastritis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, melena, tooth discoloration.

Liver and Biliary System:elevated hepatic enzymes, hepatic function disorder, liver enlargement.

Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders:dehydration, hypoglycemia, thirst.

Resistance Mechanism Disorder:infection, septicemia, otitis.

Respiratory:bronchitis, respiratory insufficiency.

Musculoskeletal System:pathologic fracture.

Female Reproductive:amenorrhea.

Psychiatric:nervousness, somnolence.

Clinical Studies

Adverse reactions to betaine have been minimal. In a survey study of physicians who had treated a total of 111 Homocystinuria patients with betaine, the types of adverse effects and the number of patients experiencing them were as follows:

Nausea2"Caused odor"1
GI distress2Questionable psychological changes1
Diarrhea1"Aspirated the powder"1
Unspecified problems1

A few cases of cerebral edema have been reported secondary to severe hypermethioninemia in patients with cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency treated with Cystadane. [See PRECAUTIONS: Hypermethioninemia (5.2)].

Drug Interactions

No drug-drug interaction studies have been conducted with betaine.

Use in Specific Populations

Pregnancy

Pregnancy Category C: Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with betaine. It is also not known whether betaine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or can affect reproduction capacity. Cystadane (betaine anhydrous for oral solution) should be given to a pregnant woman only if clearly needed.

Nursing Mothers

It is not known whether betaine is excreted in human milk (although its metabolic precursor, choline, occurs at high levels in human milk). Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when Cystadane is administered to a nursing woman.

Pediatric Use

The majority of case studies of homocystinuria patients treated with betaine have been pediatric patients. The disorder, in its most severe form, can be manifested within the fi rst months or years of life by lethargy, failure to thrive, developmental delays, seizures, or optic lens displacement. Patients have been treated successfully without adverse effects within the first months or years of life with dosages of 6 grams per day or more of betaine with resultant biochemical and clinical improvement. However, dosage titration may be preferable in pediatric patients [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION (2)]

Overdosage

In an acute toxicology study in rats, death frequently occurred at doses equal to or greater than 10,000 mg/kg.

Description

Cystadane® (betaine anhydrous for oral solution) is an agent for the treatment of Homocystinuria. Cystadane is a white, granular, hygroscopic powder. It contains no ingredients other than anhydrous betaine. Betaine anhydrous powder is very soluble in water, soluble in methanol and ethanol, and sparingly soluble in ether. The chemical name of betaine anhydrous powder is trimethylglycine. It has a molecular weight of 117.15.

The structural formula is:

Chemical Structure for Betaine

Clinical Pharmacology

When administered in the recommended oral dosage to children or adults, Cystadane acts as a methyl group donor in the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine in patients with Homocystinuria. As a result, toxic blood levels of homocysteine are reduced in these patients, usually to 20-30 percent or less of pre-treatment levels.

Elevated homocysteine blood levels are associated with clinical problems such as cardiovascular thrombosis, osteoporosis, skeletal abnormalities, and optic lens dislocation. Plasma levels of homocysteine were decreased in nearly all patients treated with betaine. In observational studies without concurrent controls, clinical improvement was reported by the treating physicians in about three-fourths of patients taking betaine. Many of these patients were also taking other therapies such as vitamin B6 (pyridoxine),vitamin B12 (cobalamin), and folate with variable biochemical responses. In most cases studied, adding betaine resulted in a further reduction of homocysteine.

Betaine was observed to lower plasma homocysteine levels in the three types of homocystinuria, i.e., cystathionine beta-synthase (CBS) deficiency; 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) deficiency; and cobalamin cofactor metabolism (cbl) defect.

Betaine has also been demonstrated to increase low plasma methionine and S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) levels in patients with MTHFR deficiency and cbl defect.

In CBS-deficient patients, large increases in methionine levels over baseline have been observed.

Betaine occurs naturally in the body. It is a metabolite of choline and is present in small amounts in foods such as beets, spinach, cereals, and seafood.

Pharmacokinetic studies of betaine are not available. Plasma levels of betaine have not been measured in patients and have not been correlated to homocysteine levels. However, pharmacodynamic measurements, i.e., monitoring of plasma homo cysteine levels, have demonstrated that the onset of action of betaine is within several days and that a steady state in response to dosage is achieved within several weeks. Patients have taken betaine for many years without evidence of tolerance.

Nonclinical Toxicology

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Long-term carcinogenicity and fertility studies have not been conducted on betaine. No evidence of genotoxicity was demonstrated in the following tests: Metaphase Analysis of Human Lymphocytes; Bacterial Reverse Mutation Assay; and Mouse Micronucleus Test.

References

Matthews A, Johnson TN, Rostami-Hodjegan A, Chakrapani A, et al. An indirect response model of homocysteine suppression by betaine: optimizing the dosage regimen of betaine in homocystinuria. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2002; 54:140-146.

HOW SUPPLIED SECTION

Cystadane is available in plastic bottles containing 180 grams of betaine anhydrous. Each bottle is equipped with a plastic child-resistant cap and is supplied with a polystyrene measuring scoop. One level scoop (1.7 cc) is equal to 1 gram of betaine anhydrous powder.

NDC 66621-4000-1 180 g/bottle

Cystadane can be ordered, or you may obtain medical information, by calling Accredo Health Group, Inc., Customer service at 1-888-454-8860.

Storage

Store at room temperature, 15 - 30 °C (59 - 86 °F).

Patient Counseling Information

The usual dosage used in adult and pediatric patients is 6 grams per day administered orally in divided doses of 3 grams two times per day. In pediatric patients less than 3 years of age, dosage may be started at 100 mg/kg/day and then increased weekly by 50 mg/kg increments. Dosage in all patients can be gradually increased until plasma total homocysteine is undetectable or present only in small amounts.

Therapy with Cystadane should be directed by physicians knowledgeable in the management of patients with homocystinuria. Plasma methionine concentrations should be monitored in patients with CBS-deficiency. [See PRECAUTIONS: Hypermethioninemia (5.2)].

Information for Patients

  1. Shake bottle lightly before removing cap.
  2. Measure with the scoop provided.
  3. One level scoop (1.7 cc) is equivalent to 1 gram of betaine anhydrous powder. Measure the number of scoops your physician has prescribed.
  4. Mix with 4 to 6 ounces (120 to 180 mL) of water, juice, milk, or formula until completely dissolved, or mix with food, then ingest immediately.

Always replace the cap tightly after using. Protect from moisture.

Distributed in the U.S. by:

Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc.

2550 Meridian Blvd., Suite 150

Franklin, TN 37067

Cystadane (betaine anhydrous) for oral solution

CYSTADANE 
betaine   powder, for solution
Product Information
Product TypeHUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUGNDC Product Code (Source)66621-4000
Route of AdministrationORALDEA Schedule    
Active Ingredient/Active Moiety
Ingredient NameBasis of StrengthStrength
betaine (betaine) betaine6 g
Inactive Ingredients
Ingredient NameStrength
No Inactive Ingredients Found
Product Characteristics
ColorwhiteScore    
ShapeSize
FlavorImprint Code
Contains    
Packaging
#NDCPackage DescriptionMultilevel Packaging
166621-4000-1180 SCOOPFUL In 1 BOTTLENone

Marketing Information
Marketing CategoryApplication Number or Monograph CitationMarketing Start DateMarketing End Date
NDANDA02057610/25/1996

Labeler - Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. (966133100)
Registrant - Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc. (966133100)
Establishment
NameAddressID/FEIOperations
Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc.966133100label
Revised: 01/2010Rare Disease Therapeutics, Inc.