Consumer medicine information

Fosrenol

Lanthanum

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Fosrenol

Active ingredient

Lanthanum

Schedule

S4

 

Consumer medicine information (CMI) leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start using Fosrenol.

What is in this leaflet

Please read this leaflet before you start taking FOSRENOL.

This leaflet answers some common questions about FOSRENOL chewable tablets. It does not contain all of the available information.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of your health care professional.

All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking FOSRENOL against the benefits they expect it will have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking FOSRENOL, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the medicine. You may need to read it again.

What FOSRENOL is used for

Phosphorus is found in your body as "Phosphate" and is needed for building strong teeth and bones as well as keeping other parts of your body healthy. When your kidneys fail to work properly, phosphate can build up in the blood. This build up of excess phosphate is called hyperphosphataemia.

FOSRENOL is a phosphate binder and is used to lower the amount of phosphate in your body. It prevents the body from absorbing the phosphate from the food you eat. The phosphate in the food binds to FOSRENOL and is carried through the digestive tract to be eliminated in your stool.

FOSRENOL tablets are not addictive.

FOSRENOL tablets are only available on a doctor's prescription.

Before you take FOSRENOL

FOSRENOL chewable tablets are not suitable for everyone.

When you must not take FOSRENOL

Do not take FOSRENOL if:

  • you are hypersensitive (allergic) to lanthanum carbonate hydrate or any of the other ingredients of FOSRENOL listed at the end of this leaflet
  • you have too little phosphate in your blood (hypophosphataemia).

Before you start to take FOSRENOL

You must tell your doctor if:

  • you have reduced liver function. It is possible that your liver will not be able to "clean" FOSRENOL from your body adequately
  • you have a disease involving the gastrointestinal tract
  • you have Crohn's disease
  • you have ulcerative colitis
  • you have or have had a stomach ulcer
  • you have or have had a blockage of the bowel
  • you have previously had abdominal surgery, or infection or inflammation of the abdomen/bowel (peritonitis)
  • you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • you are breast-feeding
    Some medicines can have harmful effects on the breast fed baby. FOSRENOL may be passed into breast milk and therefore is not recommended for mothers who breast feed their babies.

If you have not told your doctor about any of the above, tell them before you start taking FOSRENOL.

Taking other medicines

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, even any that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

FOSRENOL and some medicines may interfere with each other.

FOSRENOL can affect the uptake of certain medicines from the gut.

Such medicines should be taken at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after taking FOSRENOL.

The following drugs are affected:

  • chloroquine (against rheumatism and malaria)
  • ketoconazole (against fungal infections)
  • thyroxine (used for deficiency of thyroid hormone)
  • certain antibiotics (tetracycline, doxycycline).

Quinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin should be taken at least two hours before or four hours after FOSRENOL.

How to take FOSRENOL

Always take FOSRENOL exactly as your doctor has instructed you.

You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are unsure as to how you should take FOSRENOL.

How much to take

Your doctor will tell you how many tablets you must take with each meal (your daily dose will be divided between three meals). The number of tablets that you take will depend on:

  • Your diet (the amount of phosphate in the food you eat)
  • Your blood phosphate level.

To start with, the daily dose of FOSRENOL will usually be 1 tablet with each meal (3 tablets per day). Your doctor will then check the level of phosphate in your blood and may then increase this dose to a level that is correct for you.

How to take it

FOSRENOL tablets must be chewed completely and not swallowed whole.

For those patients who have dentures or those who have difficulty chewing you can crush the tablets.

When to take it

FOSRENOL works by binding phosphate from the food in your gut.

It is very important to take FOSRENOL during or immediately after every meal. If you eat extra meals, or eat between meals, you may need to take extra FOSRENOL. Your doctor will tell you what to do in this case.

How long to take it

Your doctor will decide how long to continue your treatment with FOSRENOL.

If you forget to take it

It is important to take FOSRENOL with every meal.

If you forget to take your FOSRENOL, then take the next dose with your next meal. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.

If you take too much (Overdose)

Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at the nearest hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much FOSRENOL. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.

Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting and headaches.

While you are taking FOSRENOL

Things you must do

Keep all of your doctor's appointments so your progress can be checked.

Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are having treatment with FOSRENOL. Remind them if any new medicines are about to be started, or if you are about to have a medical or dental procedure.

If you need to have an x-ray of your stomach or abdomen, please tell your doctor that you are taking FOSRENOL as it may affect the results of the x-ray.

Like most medicines FOSRENOL is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. It is uncertain whether or not FOSRENOL can affect the unborn child. If it is necessary for you to receive this medicine, your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking FOSRENOL.

If pregnancy occurs during your treatment, you must immediately inform your doctor.

Things you must not do

Do not use any other medicines while taking FOSRENOL unless you have discussed this with your doctor or pharmacist. This includes medicines you can buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.

Do not use FOSRENOL to treat any complaint other than directed by your doctor. It may not be safe to use FOSRENOL for another complaint.

FOSRENOL should only be used by the person for whom it was prescribed. Do not administer FOSRENOL to someone else even if they have the same condition as you. It may not be safe for another person to use FOSRENOL.

Things to be careful of

Dizziness and vertigo (a feeling of dizziness or "spinning") are uncommon side effects reported by some patients taking FOSRENOL. If you experience these side effects it may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery.

Side effects

Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well whilst you are taking FOSRENOL.

Like all medicines, FOSRENOL can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical attention if you get some of the side effects.

Do not be alarmed by the following list of side effects. You may not experience any of them.

Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following and they worry you:

  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhoea
  • headache
  • stomach pain
  • constipation
  • bronchitis and rhinitis
  • dizziness (from low blood pressure)

The above list includes the more common side effects of FOSRENOL. They are usually mild. Stomach effects are more likely if you take FOSRENOL before your meal.

You should always take FOSRENOL during or immediately after your food.

Some people get other less common side effects whilst taking FOSRENOL. These may include:

  • tiredness
  • chest pain
  • weakness
  • dry mouth
  • weight decrease
  • thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
  • joint pain
  • loss of hair
  • itching; rash
  • increase sweating
  • taste disturbance

Some side effects could be serious. Tell your doctor immediately, if you notice any of the following:

  • Blockage in the intestine (signs include: severe bloating, severe abdominal pain, swelling or cramps; severe constipation). This is a less common side effect.
  • Hypocalcaemia (too little calcium in your blood): symptoms include tingling in the hands and feet, muscle and abdominal cramps or spasms of the facial and feet muscles. This is a common side effect.

Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.

After using FOSRENOL

Storage

Keep your medicine in the original pack until it is time to take it.

Keep FOSRENOL where children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one and a half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Keep your medicine in a cool, dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C.

Do not store FOSRENOL or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink. Do not leave it on a window sill or in the car. Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.

Do not take FOSRENOL after the expiry date stated on the bottle label.

Disposal

Ask your pharmacist what to do with any unwanted medicine that is left over or if the expiry date has passed.

Product description

What FOSRENOL looks like

FOSRENOL chewable tablets are available in the following strengths and pack sizes:

FOSRENOL 500 mg: White, round, bevel-edged flat tablets debossed with 'S405/500' on one side (45 tablets per bottle; 2 bottles per carton).

FOSRENOL 750 mg: White to off-white round, flat bevelled edge tablets debossed on one side with 'S405' above '750' (15 tablets per bottle; 6 bottles per carton).

FOSRENOL 1000 mg: White to off-white round, flat bevelled edge tablets debossed on one side with 'S405' above '1000' (15 tablets per bottle; 6 bottles per carton).

Ingredients

FOSRENOL contains 500 mg, 750 mg or 1000 mg lanthanum as the active substance in form of lanthanum carbonate hydrate.

The other ingredients are:

  • dextrates
  • silicon dioxide
  • magnesium stearate

Supplier

Takeda Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd
Level 39
225 George Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
Australia
www.takeda.com/en-au
Phone: 1800 012 612

This leaflet was prepared in November 2020.

Australian Registration Numbers:

FOSRENOL 500 mg, 2 bottles of 45 tablets
AUST R 106960

FOSRENOL 750 mg, 6 bottles of 15 tablets
AUST R 106962

FOSRENOL 1000 mg, 6 bottles of 15 tablets
AUST R 106964

FOSRENOL® and the FOSRENOL Logo® are registered trademarks of Shire International Licensing BV.

TAKEDA® and the TAKEDA Logo® are registered trademarks of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited.

Published by MIMS January 2021

BRAND INFORMATION

Brand name

Fosrenol

Active ingredient

Lanthanum

Schedule

S4

 

1 Name of Medicine

Lanthanum carbonate hydrate.

2 Qualitative and Quantitative Composition

Fosrenol is presented as chewable tablets. Each tablet contains lanthanum carbonate hydrate corresponding to 500 mg, 750 mg or 1000 mg lanthanum.
For the full list of excipients, see Section 6.1 List of Excipients.

3 Pharmaceutical Form

Tablet, chewable.

Fosrenol 500 mg.

White, round, bevel-edged flat tablets debossed with 'S405/500' on one side.

Fosrenol 750 mg.

White to off-white round, flat bevel-edged tablets debossed on one side with 'S405' above '750'.

Fosrenol 1000 mg.

White to off-white round, flat bevel-edged tablets debossed on one side with 'S405' above '1000'.

4 Clinical Particulars

4.1 Therapeutic Indications

Treatment of hyperphosphataemia in adults with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD).

4.2 Dose and Method of Administration

Patients should adhere to recommended diets in order to control phosphate and fluid intake.
Fosrenol tablets must be chewed completely before swallowing. The tablets may be crushed as an aid to chewing. Intact tablets must not be swallowed whole.

Adults, including elderly (> 65 years).

For patients taking Fosrenol for the first time, the starting dose may be determined individually based on serum phosphate concentration as indicated in the following table (Table 1):
Fosrenol should be taken with or immediately after food, with the daily dose divided between meals, i.e. three times daily. Serum phosphate levels should be monitored and the dose of Fosrenol titrated every 2-3 weeks until an acceptable serum phosphate level is reached, with regular monitoring thereafter.
Control of serum phosphate level has been demonstrated at doses from 750 mg with most patients achieving acceptable serum phosphate levels at 1500-3000 mg lanthanum per day.

Hepatic impairment.

The effect of hepatic impairment on Fosrenol pharmacokinetics has not been formally assessed. Due to its mechanism of action and the lack of liver metabolism, doses in hepatic impairment should not be modified, but patients should be monitored carefully (see Section 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use; Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties).

Paediatric use.

The safety and efficacy of Fosrenol has not been established in patients below the age of 18 years.

4.3 Contraindications

Hypersensitivity to lanthanum or any of the excipients in the product.
Hypophosphataemia.

4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use

Tissue deposition of lanthanum, particularly in bone, liver and the stomach wall, has been shown with Fosrenol in animal studies. Deposition of lanthanum in bone has been studied (see Effects on bone). Results from long-term studies (studies 301, 303 and 307) demonstrated that bone lanthanum concentration had no apparent effect on bone health or treatment outcome for up to 4.5 years. There is no clinical data examining the potential deposition of lanthanum in other tissues. The long-term clinical effects of lanthanum deposition in tissues are not known. The risk/ benefit of longer-term therapy with Fosrenol should be considered.

Gastrointestinal disorders.

There have been cases of gastrointestinal obstruction, ileus, subileus, and gastrointestinal perforation reported in association with lanthanum, some requiring surgery or hospitalisation (see Section 4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)). Some of the cases are found to have lanthanum deposition or Product residue in the gastrointestinal tract.
Exercise caution in all patients predisposed to gastrointestinal obstruction, ileus, subileus and perforation; for example those with altered gastrointestinal anatomy (e.g. diverticular disease, peritonitis, history of gastrointestinal surgery, gastrointestinal cancer and gastrointestinal ulceration), hypomotility disorders (e.g. constipation, diabetic gastroparesis) and when used with medications known to potentiate these effects.
During treatment with lanthanum carbonate, physicians and patients should remain vigilant for signs and symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders, especially constipation and abdominal pain/distention which may indicate bowel obstruction, ileus or subileus.
Treatment with lanthanum carbonate should be re-evaluated in patients who develop severe constipation or other severe gastrointestinal signs and symptoms.
Patients with acute peptic ulcer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or bowel obstruction were not included in clinical studies with Fosrenol.
Fosrenol tablets must be chewed completely and not swallowed whole. Serious gastrointestinal complications have been reported in association with unchewed or incompletely chewed tablets (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration).

Use in hepatic impairment.

Lanthanum is not metabolised by liver enzymes but it is most likely excreted in the bile. Conditions resulting in a marked reduction of bile flow may be associated with incrementally slower elimination of lanthanum, which may result in higher plasma levels and increased tissue deposition of lanthanum (see Section 5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties). Caution should therefore be exercised in these patients and monitoring of liver function may be required.

Use in renal impairment.

Patients with renal insufficiency may develop hypocalcaemia. Fosrenol does not contain calcium. Serum calcium levels should therefore be monitored at the usual time intervals for this patient population and appropriate supplements given.

Use in the elderly.

No data available.

Paediatric use.

The efficacy and safety of Fosrenol has not been studied in children, therefore, the consequence of lanthanum deposition in growing bones is not known.

Effects on laboratory tests.

Abdominal X-rays of patients taking lanthanum carbonate may have a radio-opaque appearance typical of an imaging agent.

4.5 Interactions with Other Medicines and Other Forms of Interactions

The drug interaction profile of Fosrenol is characterised by the potential of lanthanum to bind to drugs with anionic functions (e.g. carboxyl, carbonyl and hydroxyl groups).
Lanthanum carbonate may increase gastrointestinal pH.
It is recommended that compounds, which are known to interact with antacids, should not be taken within 2 hours of dosing with Fosrenol (e.g. chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and ketoconazole).
Serum levels of fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K, were not affected by Fosrenol administration in clinical studies.
Lanthanum carbonate is not a substrate for cytochrome P450. In vitro tests indicate that no significant inhibition of the activities of the major human cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP2C9 or CYP2C19 is expected at therapeutic concentrations. Lanthanum is extensively bound in human plasma and isolated human plasma protein preparations, including albumin, transferrin and alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (99.7 to > 99.9%).
Interaction with drugs such as tetracycline and doxycycline are theoretically possible and if these compounds are to be co-administered, it is recommended that they are not to be taken within 2 hours of dosing with Fosrenol.

In vitro interactions with other medicines.

Gastric fluid.

The potential for a physico-chemical interaction (precipitation) between lanthanum and six commonly used medications (warfarin, digoxin, furosemide, phenytoin, metoprolol, and enalapril) was investigated in simulated gastric fluid. The results suggest that precipitation in the stomach of insoluble complexes of these drugs with lanthanum is unlikely.
The therapeutic activity of Fosrenol depends on the acidity of the gastric environment. The potential for drugs which alter gastric acidity (for example proton pump inhibitors) to alter the therapeutic activity of Fosrenol has not been examined in trials but should be considered.

In vivo interactions with other medicines.

In healthy subjects, the absorption and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of 1000 mg of Fosrenol is unaffected by co-administration of citrate. No clinically relevant effects of lanthanum were found on the absorption and pharmacokinetic profiles of digoxin (0.5 mg), metoprolol (100 mg), or warfarin (10 mg) in healthy subjects co-administered lanthanum carbonate (three doses of 1000 mg on the day prior to exposure and one dose of 1000 mg on the day of coadministration). Potential pharmacodynamic interactions between lanthanum and these drugs (e.g. bleeding time or prothrombin time) were not evaluated. None of the drug interaction studies was done with the maximum recommended therapeutic dose of lanthanum carbonate. No drug interaction studies assessed the effects of drugs on phosphate binding by lanthanum carbonate.
Co-administration of Fosrenol with quinolone antibiotics may reduce the extent of absorption as a result of complex formation. The bioavailability of oral ciprofloxacin was decreased by approximately 50% when taken with Fosrenol in a single dose study in healthy volunteers. It is recommended that oral quinolone formulations are taken at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after Fosrenol.
Phosphate binders (including Fosrenol) have been shown to reduce the absorption of levothyroxine. The bioavailability of levothyroxine was decreased by approximately 40% when taken together with Fosrenol. Consequently, thyroid hormone replacement therapy should not be taken within 2 hours of dosing with Fosrenol and closer monitoring of TSH levels is recommended in patients receiving both medicinal products.

4.6 Fertility, Pregnancy and Lactation

Effects on fertility.

There are no human data on the effects of lanthanum carbonate on fertility. Lanthanum carbonate administered to female and male rats prior to and throughout mating at oral doses up to 2000 mg/kg/day (half the clinical exposure based on AUC at 3000 mg/day) did not alter mating or fertility.
(Category B3)
There was no evidence of teratogenicity in rats or rabbits following oral administration of lanthanum carbonate during the period of organogenesis at doses up to 2000 (rat) and 1500 (rabbit) mg/kg/day (0.5-1.2 times the clinical exposure based on AUC at 3000 mg/day). Increased implantation loss, and delayed skeletal ossification occurred in rabbits at ≥ 1500 mg/kg/day, in association with maternal toxicity. There are no adequate data from the use of Fosrenol in pregnant women. The safety of lanthanum carbonate in human pregnancy has not been established. Fosrenol should not be used during pregnancy unless the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.
 There is some evidence that lanthanum can be excreted in human breast milk. The excretion of lanthanum in milk following oral treatment with lanthanum carbonate has not been studied in animals. Post-natal development was delayed in the offspring of rats receiving oral doses of lanthanum carbonate at 2000 mg/kg/day. Women taking Fosrenol should stop breastfeeding.

4.7 Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines

Fosrenol may induce dizziness and vertigo, which may impair the ability to drive and use machinery.

4.8 Adverse Effects (Undesirable Effects)

The safety of Fosrenol for use in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF) in both hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients was initially examined in three short-term, placebo controlled, double blind studies, three long-term, comparator controlled studies, and three long-term open label studies. These studies have provided a total safety database of 1754 patients treated with lanthanum carbonate hydrate and represents a mean exposure of 272.1 days (median 184.0 days, range 1-1123 days).
The most common adverse events (≥ 5% in either treatment group) in two long-term open label phase III trials that included 1215 patients treated with lanthanum carbonate hydrate and 944 with alternative therapy are detailed in Table 2.
The adverse events in the long-term, open label, active controlled, study of Fosrenol vs. alternative therapy (Study 307) have been adjusted for mean exposure differences between the treatment groups (with a mean exposure of 1.0 years on lanthanum and 1.4 years on alternative therapy). The adjustment for mean exposure was achieved by multiplying the observed adverse event rates in the alternative therapy group by 0.74.
Overall, approximately 24% of all ESRF patients who participated in these clinical studies reported a drug related adverse reaction, as determined by the investigator. No individual ADR was reported at a frequency greater than 10%. The most commonly reported adverse drug reactions, with the exception of headache, are gastrointestinal in nature. Gastrointestinal reactions were the most common leading to discontinuation. Gastrointestinal reactions can be minimized by taking Fosrenol with food and generally abated with time with continued dosing (see Section 4.2 Dose and Method of Administration).
Table 3 presents the very common (≥ 1/10), common (≥ 1/100, < 1/10), uncommon (≥ 1/1,000 to < 1/100) and rare (≥ 1/10,000 to < 1/1,000) reactions were reported with Fosrenol in clinical trials to date.

Postmarketing experience.

During post-approval use of Fosrenol, cases of allergic skin reactions (including skin rashes, urticaria and pruritus) have been reported which show a close temporal relationship to lanthanum carbonate therapy. In clinical trials, allergic skin reactions were seen in both Fosrenol and placebo/ active comparator groups at a frequency of very common (≥ 1/10).
Although there have been a number of additional isolated reactions reported, none of these reactions are considered unexpected in this patient population.
Transient QT changes have been observed but these were not associated with any adverse events.

Reporting suspected adverse effects.

Reporting suspected adverse reactions after registration of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit-risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions at http://www.tga.gov.au/reporting-problems.

4.9 Overdose

The symptoms associated with overdose are known adverse reactions such as headache, nausea and vomiting. As Fosrenol is only pharmacologically active within the gut, supportive therapy is recommended for overdose.
For information on the management of overdose, contact the Poisons Information Centre telephone: 131126 (Australia).

5 Pharmacological Properties

5.1 Pharmacodynamic Properties

Mechanism of action.

Fosrenol (lanthanum carbonate hydrate) has been developed as a dietary phosphate-binding agent. Phosphate absorption from the gastrointestinal tract is effectively decreased by the formation of highly insoluble complexes that are largely unable to pass through the wall of the gastrointestinal tract and are eliminated by excretion.
Fosrenol is indicated for the treatment of hyperphosphataemia. Fosrenol contains lanthanum carbonate hydrate. The activity of lanthanum carbonate as a phosphate binder is dependent on the high affinity of lanthanum ions, which are released from the carbonate salt in the acid environment of the upper gastrointestinal tract, for dietary phosphate. Insoluble lanthanum phosphate is formed which reduces the absorption of phosphate from the gastrointestinal tract.
Several studies have shown that lanthanum can be used to control hyperphosphataemia associated with chronic renal failure through dose titration and that effect is maintained with long-term use. A lower incidence of hypercalcaemia was reported with Fosrenol (0.4%) compared with calcium based binders (20.2%) in comparative studies.
Serum PTH concentrations may fluctuate depending on a patient's serum calcium, phosphate and vitamin D status. Fosrenol has not been shown to have any direct effects on PTH secretion.

Clinical trials.

A total of 1130 patients with chronic renal failure treated with maintenance haemodialysis or CAPD were studied in two phase II and two phase III studies (LAM-IV-202, 204, 301 and 302). Three studies were placebo controlled (1 fixed dose and 2 titrated dose designs) and one included calcium carbonate as an active comparator. During these studies, 1016 patients received lanthanum carbonate, 267 received calcium carbonate and 95 received placebo.
The first phase III study (301) was a two part study designed to assess the reduction of serum phosphate by Fosrenol compared to calcium carbonate. The study had 2 parts: part 1 was a 5 week titration phase after randomization to Fosrenol or calcium carbonate where patients were titrated to a target phosphate level of 1.8 mmol/L. Part 2 was a 20 week maintenance phase where patients maintained their doses of binder and plasma phosphate levels assessed. The study endpoints were % patients achieving target phosphate levels at the end of the titration and maintenance periods. The plasma phosphate levels from this study are presented in Table 4. Serum phosphate levels were reduced to target levels of 1.8 mmol/L at the end of the 5 week titration period, in 58% of the lanthanum group compared with 70% of the calcium carbonate group. Following 25 weeks of treatment, the proportions controlled were 66% (lanthanum carbonate) and 64% (calcium carbonate).
The second phase III study (302) was a double blind, placebo controlled study designed to assess the maintenance in reduction in serum phosphate levels after an open label titration phase with Fosrenol to achieve a target phosphate concentration of 1.8 mmol/L. This was followed by a 4 week double blind phase where patients were randomised to continue to receive Fosrenol or a comparable number of placebo tablets. The endpoint of this study was the plasma phosphate concentrations after 4 weeks of treatment on Fosrenol or placebo. A total of 93 patients completed the open label phase and were randomised to Fosrenol or placebo. The plasma phosphate levels at the end of the open label titration and at each week of the double blind study are presented in Table 5.
A phase II randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study (SPD405-206) was also conducted in chronic kidney disease stage 3 and 4 patients not undergoing dialysis but requiring treatment with phosphate binders. The primary endpoint was achievement of a target serum phosphate concentration of ≤ 1.49 mmol/L. Eighty patients were randomised to receive Fosrenol vs 41 patients on placebo. The ITT population consisted of 56 patients on Fosrenol vs 34 patients on placebo (there were a large number of discontinuations mainly due to patients' baseline not being above the target serum phosphate level after the washout phase). Patients were treated for up to 8 weeks. At the end of the study the mean dose of Fosrenol was 2645.3 mg/day. 44.6% of Fosrenol patients had achieved the target phosphate concentration compared to 26.5% of patients on placebo. The difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.12). The mean change from baseline to end of treatment for serum phosphate in the Fosrenol group was -0.18 mmol/L compared to -0.06 mmol/L in the placebo group.

Hyperphosphataemia.

Lanthanum has been demonstrated to be an effective binder of dietary phosphate for use in controlling the hyperphosphataemia of chronic renal failure. Multiple studies have shown that lanthanum can reliably be used to achieve serum phosphate reductions to target levels through dose titration and to effectively maintain control of serum phosphate levels with long-term use. Maintenance of target phosphate levels was shown to be similar between lanthanum and calcium treatments.
The lowest effective dose of lanthanum that is effective in the control of serum phosphate levels was established to be approximately 750 mg/day. Doses of up to 3000 mg lanthanum resulted in a reduction of serum phosphate to within target control levels in most patients.
No difference in level of control was observed between those patients on haemodialysis and those receiving CAPD. In addition no difference in the effectiveness of lanthanum carbonate administration was noted between patients under or over 65 years of age.

Effects on bone.

Overall, Fosrenol and standard treatments, including calcium carbonate, produced similar effects on the bones of dialysis patients.
Results from histology and histomorphometry of human biopsy samples evaluated to date from the three clinical studies (Study 301 where patients had been treated with lanthanum carbonate for up to 4.5 years, Studies 303 and 307) showed no evidence of osteomalacia or other adverse bone pathology. In Study 303, a randomised study to investigate the effect of Fosrenol with calcium carbonate, results showed that Fosrenol produced marginally greater improvements towards normal values than calcium carbonate for many of the bone primary and secondary response variables in addition to the general improvements in bone growth and turnover parameters. In Study 307, a study where patients had been treated for 2 years, no statistical differences in bone parameters between patients randomised to receive standard therapy or Fosrenol were observed. Analysis of data from paired bone biopsies (at baseline and at one or two years) in patients randomised to either Fosrenol or calcium carbonate in Study 303 and patients randomised to either Fosrenol or alternative therapy in Study 307, showed no differences in the development of mineralisation defects between the groups. An analysis of adverse events in the bone study participants in these studies did not show any increase in adverse events related to the musculoskeletal system, including fractures. Fosrenol, therefore, does not appear to harm bone following treatment for up to 4.5 years.

5.2 Pharmacokinetic Properties

As binding between lanthanum and dietary phosphorus occurs in the lumen of the stomach and upper small intestine, the therapeutic effectiveness of Fosrenol is not dependent on levels of lanthanum in the plasma.
Lanthanum is present in the environment. Measurement of background levels in nonlanthanum treated chronic renal failure patients during phase III clinical trials revealed concentrations of < 0.05 to 0.90 nanogram/mL in plasma, and < 0.006 to 1.02 microgram/g in bone biopsy samples.

Absorption.

Lanthanum carbonate has low aqueous solubility (< 0.01 mg/mL at pH 7.5) and is minimally absorbed following oral administration. Absolute oral bioavailability is estimated to be < 0.002% in humans.
In healthy subjects, plasma AUC and Cmax increased as a function of dose, but in a less than proportional manner, after single oral doses of 250 to 1000 mg lanthanum, consistent with dissolution limited absorption. The apparent plasma elimination half-life in healthy subjects was 36 hours.
In renal dialysis patients dosed for 10 days with 1000 mg lanthanum 3 times daily, the mean (± SD) peak plasma concentration was 1.06 (± 1.04) nanogram/mL, and mean AUClast was 31.1 (± 40.5) nanogram.h/mL. Regular blood level monitoring in 1707 renal dialysis patients taking lanthanum carbonate for up to 2 years showed no increase in plasma lanthanum concentrations over this time period.

Distribution.

Orally administered lanthanum is distributed predominantly within the gastrointestinal tract. The small fraction absorbed is extensively bound to human plasma proteins (> 99.7%), and binding is high capacity and nonspecific. In long-term animal studies, at oral doses up to 17 times a human dose of 3000 mg/day, lanthanum concentrations in the majority of tissues were less than 1 microgram/g. Concentrations in brain and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were below or around the assay quantification limit (0.01 microgram/g for brain and 0.05 nanogram/mL for CSF) and median steady-state concentrations were up to 8.2 microgram/g in bone, 11.1 microgram/g in liver and 2.2 mg/g in the stomach wall. Rodents, but not dogs, treated at doses 4 times the human dose of 3000 mg/day showed submucosal inflammation and epithelial hyperplasia of the stomach. No other adverse effects were associated with these concentrations. Lanthanum levels in these tissues dissipated very slowly after the cessation of oral dosing, with a half-life > 26 weeks. Cases of lanthanum deposition in gastrointestinal mucosa, mainly after long term use, have been reported. The clinical significance of this is yet unknown.

Metabolism.

Lanthanum is not metabolised. Studies in chronic renal failure patients with hepatic impairment have not been conducted. In patients with coexisting hepatic disorders at the time of entry into phase III clinical studies, there was no evidence of increased plasma exposure to lanthanum or worsening hepatic function after treatment with Fosrenol for periods up to 2 years.

Excretion.

Lanthanum is excreted mainly in the faeces (> 90%) with only around 0.000031% of an oral dose excreted via the urine in healthy subjects.

5.3 Preclinical Safety Data

Genotoxicity.

In vitro assays for gene mutations (bacteria and CHO cells) and in vivo studies for chromosomal or DNA damage did not provide evidence of genotoxic potential. An in vitro chromosome aberration assay in CHO cells had an equivocal outcome.

Carcinogenicity.

Lanthanum carbonate, at doses 13 times higher than the clinical dose of 3000 mg/day, caused a slight increase in gastric adenomas in mice. This response was considered to be an exacerbation of spontaneous stomach pathology and secondary to changes in the gastric environment caused by lanthanum carbonate administration. Gastric pathology was confined to rodents.

6 Pharmaceutical Particulars

6.1 List of Excipients

Fosrenol tablets also contain the excipients dextrates, silicon dioxide and magnesium stearate.

6.2 Incompatibilities

Incompatibilities were either not assessed or not identified as part of the registration of this medicine.

6.3 Shelf Life

36 months from date of manufacture.

6.4 Special Precautions for Storage

Store below 25°C.

6.5 Nature and Contents of Container

Fosrenol is supplied as chewable tablets in white cylindrical HDPE bottles fitted with polypropylene caps and is available in the following presentation and pack sizes:
Fosrenol 500 mg: 45 tablets per bottle; 2 bottles per pack (pack of 90 tablets).
Fosrenol 750 mg: 15 tablets per bottle; 6 bottles per pack (pack of 90 tablets).
Fosrenol 1000 mg: 15 tablets per bottle; 6 bottles per pack (pack of 90 tablets).

6.6 Special Precautions for Disposal

In Australia, any unused medicine or waste material should be disposed of by taking to your local pharmacy.

6.7 Physicochemical Properties

La2(CO3)3.xH2O = 457.85 (anhydrous), on average x = 4.5 moles of water.

CAS number.

54451-24-0.

7 Medicine Schedule (Poisons Standard)

Prescription Only Medicine (S4).

Summary Table of Changes