Conditions: Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Chronic Pancreatitis Pancreatectomy
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 50
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study assesses the efficacy and safety of Viokase® 16 for the correction of steatorrhea (malabsorption of dietary fats) in patients with a history of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) due to chronic pancreatitis (CP) or pancreatectomy. This study is sponsored by Aptalis Pharma (formerly Axcan).

Detailed description:
This study is a Phase III, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled study, to assess the efficacy and safety of Viokase® 16 for the correction of steatorrhea in patients with EPI due to CP or pancreatectomy. The study will include the following phases: screening phase (up to 10 days), wash-out phase (6 to 7 days), randomization phase (up to 10 days), and treatment phase (6 to 7 days).

In screening phase, patients will undergo screening procedures prior to entry into the study.

In wash-out phase, stool collection will be performed to allow determination of the baseline CFA.

In randomization phase, patients who qualify for the Treatment Phase (that is, patients who have a CFA% below 80%) will be randomized in the study.

In the treatment phase, patients will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio (Viokase® 16 or Placebo). In treatment phase, stool collection period will be performed to allow determination of the CFA% that will serve to assess the efficacy of Viokase® 16 for the correction of steatorrhea. Follow-up procedures will be scheduled 7 to 10 days after discharge. Patients who do not show abnormal findings, adverse events or concomitant medications during the treatment phase will be assessed via follow-up telephone call. Patients who show abnormal findings (physical examination, vital signs, clinical laboratory tests, adverse events, concomitant medications) during the treatment phase will complete a follow-up visit.

Arms:
arm 1: None arm 2: None

Interventions: intervention 1: Viokase® 16 intervention 2: Placebo intervention 3: Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) intervention 4: Omeprazole
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Patients assigned to Viokase® 16 will be given 22 tablets orally daily (that is, 6 tablets per meal and 2 tablets with 2 of 3 snacks) for 6 to 7 days in treatment phase. intervention 2: Patients assigned to placebo will be given 22 matching placebo tablets orally daily (that is, 6 tablets per meal and 2 tablets with 2 of 3 snacks) for 6 to 7 days in treatment phase. intervention 3: Patients on PPI during Screening will continue their usual PPI therapy throughout the study. intervention 4: Patients not using PPI therapy at Screening will be given omeprazole 20 milligram orally once daily throughout the study.

Protocol document: