Lokelma sodium zirconium cyclosilicate 5 g/5g Powder, For Suspension — NDC 50090-6502-0 (Billing 50090-6502-00)
This is a package of Lokelma sodium zirconium cyclosilicate 5 g/5g Powder, For Suspension from A-S Medication Solutions, marketed since Sep 2018 and currently FDA-listed. It is this product's only package size.
Identity & classification
Regulatory identifiers FDA, NLM and CMS codes for this package
Drug-database identifiers Medi-Span GPI and First Databank GCN / HICL / AHFS classification
- GSN (GCN sequence number): 078441
- GCN: 44774
- HICL (First Databank): 044935
- AHFS class code: 40:18.18.00
- RxCUI (RxNorm): 2047633
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- RxNorm (NLM RxNav) · catalog refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- Medi-Span GPI (licensed)
- First Databank (licensed) · refreshed Oct 1, 2026
RxNorm drug class
This medicine belongs to the Drugs for treatment of hyperkalemia and hyperphosphatemia class.
Where does this data come from?
- RxClass (NLM) · catalog refreshed Oct 1, 2026
Clinical
- It treats hyperkalemia, which means high potassium in your blood, in adults. It is not for emergencies, because it works too slowly for life-threatening high potassium.
- Pour the whole packet into a glass with about 3 tablespoons of water, stir and drink right away. If powder is left, add water and drink again until it is gone. Follow your prescrib...
- In general, take other oral medicines at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after Lokelma. It can change how some drugs are absorbed. Ask me or your prescriber if you are unsure about...
- The most common one is swelling (edema), usually mild to moderate. It is more likely at higher daily amounts. Call your doctor if swelling gets worse, especially if you have heart...
Patient education
Supplement & herbal interactions
Some supplements/herbs that may interact with Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate — tap one for details:
Where does this data come from?
- MedlinePlus (NLM) · refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
Ask a licensed pharmacist directly — free, answered by our team.
Pricing
A drug doesn't have one price. Each row is a different public payment system, and none is what you'd pay at the counter — that depends on your insurance. The ⓘ on each row explains what it measures.
| Price system | Per mL | Per package |
|---|---|---|
| Retail pharmacies payNADAC · weekly | Not in the retail survey — common for institutional, discontinued, or low-volume packs. | |
| Medicaid paysCMS SDUD · 12 mo | No recent Medicaid claims on file for this NDC — rare and low-volume NDCs are suppressed in the public data. | |
| Medicare drug plans payPart D · Q2 2026 | $28.31 | — |
Where does this data come from?
- CMS NADAC weekly file
- CMS ASP pricing files · refreshed Sep 20, 2026
- CMS Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data · refreshed Oct 3, 2026
- CMS Part D plan pricing files · refreshed Sep 24, 2026
- VA National Acquisition Center price file
Packaging — all sizes for this product
| Package NDC | Description | Marketing start | Marketing end | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50090-6502-00 You're viewing this Main listing | 30 PACKET in 1 BOX / 5 g in 1 PACKET | 2023-05-25 | — | Active |
Therapeutic equivalents
| Product | Labeler | Pack | NADAC/unit | TE | Status | Price vs. this |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lokelma 5 g/5g 00310-1105-30 | AstraZeneca | 30 packets | $28.362 | AB | Availability likely | — |
| Lokelma 5 g/5gthis 50090-6502-00 | A-S | 30 packets | — | AB | FDA listed | — |
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- FDA Orange Book · refreshed Oct 3, 2026
- CMS NADAC weekly file
Availability & generic status
The FDA lists approved generic versions of this medicine, but that does not always mean a pharmacy can get one today. Patent rules, launch agreements, supply and pricing can affect when generics actually arrive.
Why the date isn’t exact: Generic timing can change because patents may be challenged, settled, licensed, added, removed, or worked around with a narrower label — and FDA approval does not always mean a pharmacy can get the generic today.
🛈 What do these terms mean?
- Patent
- Legal protection listed in the Orange Book that may delay generic approval or launch. Issued by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
- Substance patent
- Covers the active drug molecule itself — the hardest to design around. A generic generally can’t launch until it expires.
- Formulation (product) patent
- Covers a specific formulation or dosage form. A generic can sometimes work around it with a different formulation.
- Method-of-use patent
- A patent covering one specific approved use of the drug — not necessarily the whole molecule. A generic can sometimes launch with a “skinny label” that carves out the protected use and keeps the others.
- Skinny label
- A generic label that omits a still-patented use when the FDA allows it — letting a generic reach the market for the unprotected uses.
- Exclusivity
- FDA-granted marketing protection, separate from patents — e.g. 5-yr new chemical entity, 7-yr orphan drug, or a +6-month pediatric extension.
- Paragraph IV
- A generic applicant’s formal challenge to a listed patent. It can potentially lead to earlier generic entry, but often involves litigation or a settlement.
- RLD / RS
- Reference Listed Drug — the brand product the FDA uses as the reference for generic applications. Reference Standard — the product the FDA expects generics to compare against in bioequivalence testing.
- TE / AB rating
- FDA therapeutic-equivalence rating. An AB rating generally means the FDA considers a generic therapeutically equivalent to — and substitutable for — the brand.
- LOE (loss of exclusivity)
- The latest patent or exclusivity currently listed — the loss-of-exclusivity / latest-listed-protection date shown on this page. Paragraph-IV challenges and settlements can move the real date earlier; FDA approval and a manufacturer’s decision to market can move it later.
Built from the FDA Orange Book. The bars above are scaled to each protection’s expiry; the red LOE marker is the last one to lapse.
| Patent | Type | Use code | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 9592253 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 9844567 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 9861658 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 9592253 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 9913860 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 10300087 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 10300087 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 10398730 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 10398730 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 9844567 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 8808750 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 11738044 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 11738044 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Oct 14, 2035 |
| US 9861658 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 9913860 ↗ | Drug substance | U-2312 | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 10335432 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 8808750 ↗ | Method of use | U-2312 | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 10413569 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 10695365 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 8877255 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 8877255 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 11406662 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 8802152 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Apr 19, 2032 |
| US 10413569 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 10695365 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Oct 22, 2033 |
| US 11406662 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Feb 10, 2032 |
| US 8802152 ↗ | Drug substance | — | Apr 19, 2032 |
Is there a generic version of LOKELMA 5 GRAM POWDER PACKET?
The FDA approved a generic — why can’t I get it at my pharmacy yet?
Why do different websites show different generic release dates?
What does “FDA listed” mean?
What does a patent or protection date mean here?
What does “current Orange Book estimate” mean?
Can a generic come out before the last patent expires?
Can a generic come out after the listed dates?
What is the difference between patents and exclusivity?
Why are there multiple patent dates?
Where does this data come from?
- FDA Orange Book · refreshed Oct 3, 2026
Inactive Ingredients / Excipients
Inactive ingredients, also called excipients, are components of the drug product other than the active ingredient. They may include fillers, dyes, coatings, preservatives, flavors, or other formulation ingredients.
Where does this data come from?
IACT rows and label-wide narrative are kept separate; availability and product-level specificity depend on the submitted label.- FDA label on DailyMed · label index refreshed Oct 1, 2026
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
Inactive ingredient FAQ
Are inactive ingredients the same for every manufacturer?
Why might an inactive ingredient be missing?
Can inactive ingredients matter?
Manufacturer & labeler
Where does this data come from?
- FDA openFDA NDC Directory · synced Oct 1, 2026
- Drugs@FDA
Full prescribing information FDA SPL
🎯 Indications and Usage ▾
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE LOKELMA is indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults. Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) and Clinical Studies (14) ] . LOKELMA is a potassium binder indicated for the treatment of hyperkalemia in adults.
( 1 ) Limitation of Use LOKELMA should not be used as an emergency treatment for life-threatening hyperkalemia because of its delayed onset of action. ( 1 )
⏱️ Dosage and Administration ▾
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION • Recommended starting dose is 10 g administered three times a day for up to 48 hours. ( 2.1 ) • For maintenance treatment, recommended dose is 10 g once daily. Adjust dose at one-week intervals as needed (by 5 g daily) to obtain desired serum potassium target range.
( 2.1 ) Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis • Recommended starting dose is 5 g once daily on non-dialysis days. ( 2.2 ) See full Prescribing Information for additional dosing instructions, as well as reconstitution and administration instructions for the oral suspension.
2.1Recommended Dosage For initial treatment of hyperkalemia, the recommended dose of LOKELMA is 10 g administered three times a day for up to 48 hours. Administer LOKELMA orally as a suspension in water [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . For continued treatment, the recommended dose is 10 g once daily.
Monitor serum potassium and adjust the dose of LOKELMA based on the serum potassium level and desired target range. During maintenance treatment, up-titrate based on the serum potassium level at intervals of 1-week or longer and in increments of 5 g. Decrease the dose of LOKELMA or discontinue if the serum potassium is below the desired target range.
The recommended maintenance dose range is from 5 g every other day to 15 g daily.
2.2Dosage Adjustment for Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis For patients on chronic hemodialysis, administer LOKELMA only on non-dialysis days. The recommended starting dose is 5 g once daily on non-dialysis days. Consider a starting dose of 10 g once daily on non-dialysis days in patients with serum potassium greater than 6.5 mEq/L.
Monitor serum potassium and adjust the dose of LOKELMA based on the pre-dialysis serum potassium value after the long inter-dialytic interval and desired target range. During initiation and after a dose adjustment, assess serum potassium after one week. The recommended maintenance dose range is from 5 g to 15 g once daily, on non-dialysis days.
Discontinue or decrease the dose of LOKELMA if: • serum potassium falls below the desired target range based on the pre-dialysis value after the long interdialytic interval, or; • the patient develops clinically significant hypokalemia
2.3Reconstitution and Administration In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA [see Drug Interactions (7) ] . Instruct patients to empty the entire contents of the packet(s) into a drinking glass containing approximately 3 tablespoons of water or more if desired. Stir well and drink immediately.
If powder remains in the drinking glass, add water, stir and drink immediately. Repeat until no powder remains to ensure the entire dose is taken.
💊 Dosage Forms and Strengths ▾
3 DOSAGE FORMS AND STRENGTHS For oral suspension: 5 g or 10 g of white to grey powder in a foil-lined packet. • For oral suspension: 5 g per packet ( 3 ) • For oral suspension: 10 g per packet ( 3 )
⛔ Contraindications ▾
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS None. None. ( 4 )
⚠️ Warnings and Cautions ▾
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS • Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients with Motility Disorders. ( 5.1 ) • Edema. ( 5.2 ) • Hypokalemia in patients on hemodialysis. ( 5.3 ) • LOKELMA has radio-opaque properties and, therefore, may give the appearance typical of an imaging agent during abdominal X-ray procedures. ( 5.4 )
5.1Gastrointestinal Adverse Events in Patients with Motility Disorders Avoid use of LOKELMA in patients with severe constipation, bowel obstruction or impaction, including abnormal post-operative bowel motility disorders, because LOKELMA has not been studied in patients with these conditions and may be ineffective and may worsen gastrointestinal conditions.
5.2Edema Each 5 g dose of LOKELMA contains approximately 400 mg of sodium, but the extent of absorption by the patient is unknown. In clinical trials of LOKELMA in patients who were not on dialysis, edema was observed and was generally mild to moderate in severity and was more commonly seen in patients treated with 15 g once daily. Monitor for signs of edema, particularly in patients who should restrict their sodium intake or are prone to fluid overload (e.g., heart failure or renal disease).
Advise patients to adjust dietary sodium, if appropriate. Increase the dose of diuretics as needed [see Adverse Reactions (6) ] . In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis in which most patients were treated with doses of 5 to 10 g once daily on non-dialysis days, there was no difference in the mean change from baseline in interdialytic weight gain (a measure of fluid retention) between the LOKELMA and placebo groups.
5.3Hypokalemia in Patients on Hemodialysis Patients on hemodialysis may be prone to acute illness that can increase the risk of hypokalemia on LOKELMA (e.g., illnesses associated with decreased oral intake, diarrhea). Consider adjusting Lokelma dose based on potassium levels in these settings.
5.4Diagnostic Tests LOKELMA has radio-opaque properties and, therefore, may give the appearance typical of an imaging agent during abdominal X-ray procedures.
🤒 Adverse Reactions ▾
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in the label: • Edema [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . Most common adverse reactions with LOKELMA: mild to moderate edema. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact AstraZeneca at 1-800-236-9933 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
6.1Clinical Studies Experience Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The total exposure to LOKELMA in the safety and efficacy clinical trials of patients not on dialysis with hyperkalemia was 1,760 patients with 652 patients exposed to LOKELMA for at least 6 months and 507 patients exposed for at least one year.
The population (n=1,009) in the placebo-controlled trials included patients aged 22 to 96 years, females (n=454), Caucasians (n=859) and Blacks (n=130). Patients had hyperkalemia in association with comorbid diseases such as chronic kidney disease, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus. In placebo-controlled trials in which patients who were not on dialysis were treated with once daily doses of LOKELMA for up to 28 days, edema was reported in 4.4% of patients receiving 5 g, 5.9% of patients receiving 10 g and 16.1% of patients receiving 15 g LOKELMA compared to 2.4% of patients receiving placebo.
In longer-term uncontrolled trials in which most patients were maintained on doses <15 g once daily, adverse reactions of edema (edema, generalized edema and peripheral edema) were reported in 8% to 11% of patients. Laboratory Abnormalities In clinical trials in patients who were not on dialysis, 4.1% of LOKELMA-treated patients developed hypokalemia with a serum potassium value less than 3.5 mEq/L, which resolved with dosage reduction or discontinuation of LOKELMA. In a clinical trial of LOKELMA in patients on chronic hemodialysis, 5% of patients developed pre-dialysis hypokalemia (serum potassium <3.5 mEq/L) in both the LOKELMA and placebo groups; 3% and 1% of patients developed a serum potassium < 3.0 mEq/L in the LOKELMA and placebo groups, respectively.
🔄 Drug Interactions ▾
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS LOKELMA can transiently increase gastric pH. As a result, LOKELMA can change the absorption of co-administered drugs that exhibit pH-dependent solubility, potentially leading to altered efficacy or safety of these drugs when taken close to the time LOKELMA is administered. In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
LOKELMA is not expected to impact systemic exposure of drugs that do not exhibit pH-dependent solubility and so spacing is not needed if it has been determined that the concomitant medication does not exhibit pH-dependent solubility. In general, other oral medications should be administered at least 2 hours before or 2 hours after LOKELMA. ( 2.3 , 7 , 12.3 )
Drug Interactions Thirty-six (36) drugs were tested in-vitro to determine potential interactions with LOKELMA. Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). Nine (9) of the 20 drugs that showed an in vitro interaction were subsequently tested in vivo with LOKELMA 10 gin healthy volunteers.
Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. These changes are consistent with the hypothesis that LOKELMA, by elevating gastric pH, affects the systemic exposure of co-administered drugs whose solubility is pH-dependent [see Drug Interactions (7) ] .
In another drug-drug interaction study in healthy volunteers, co-administration of LOKELMA 15 g decreased the systemic exposures of tacrolimus (Figure 2), likely due to LOKELMA’s action on elevating gastric pH. In the same study, co-administration of LOKELMA and cyclosporine did not show a clinically meaningful interaction. Figure 2: Effects of LOKELMA 10 g or 15 g on the Pharmacokinetic Exposures of Other Orally Administered Medications figure_2
👥 Use in Specific Populations ▾
8 USE IN SPECIFIC POPULATIONS
8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug.
8.2Lactation Risk Summary LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration, and breastfeeding is not expected to result in exposure of the child to LOKELMA.
8.4Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
8.5Geriatric Use Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of LOKELMA, 58% were age 65 and over, while 25% were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients.
🤰 Pregnancy ▾
8.1Pregnancy Risk Summary LOKELMA is not absorbed systemically following oral administration and maternal use is not expected to result in fetal exposure to the drug.
🧒 Pediatric Use ▾
8.4Pediatric Use Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
🧓 Geriatric Use ▾
8.5Geriatric Use Of the total number of subjects in clinical studies of LOKELMA, 58% were age 65 and over, while 25% were 75 and over. No overall differences in safety or effectiveness were observed between these patients and younger patients.
🧬 Clinical Pharmacology ▾
12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
12.1Mechanism of Action LOKELMA (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is a non-absorbed zirconium silicate that preferentially captures potassium in exchange for hydrogen and sodium. In vitro , LOKELMA has a high affinity for potassium ions, even in the presence of other cations such as calcium and magnesium. LOKELMA increases fecal potassium excretion through binding of potassium in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract.
Binding of potassium reduces the concentration of free potassium in the gastrointestinal lumen, thereby lowering serum potassium levels.
12.2Pharmacodynamics In a study in healthy adult subjects, LOKELMA administered as 5 g or 10 g once daily for four days caused a dose-dependent increase in fecal potassium excretion. Corresponding dose-dependent decreases in urinary potassium excretion and serum potassium were also observed. In patients with hyperkalemia treated with LOKELMA 10 g three times a day for up to 48 hours, reductions in serum potassium were observed one hour after initiation of therapy; serum potassium concentrations continued to decline over the 48-hour treatment period [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] .
In patients not continuing LOKELMA, potassium levels increased. Patients with higher starting serum potassium levels or receiving a higher dose have greater reductions in serum potassium. LOKELMA causes a small dose-dependent increase in serum bicarbonate concentrations (1.1 mmol/L at 5 g once daily, 2.3 mmol/L at 10 g once daily and 2.6 mmol/L at 15 g once daily as compared with a mean increase of 0.6 mmol/L in patients treated with placebo).
The clinical significance of this finding is unclear.
12.3Pharmacokinetics LOKELMA is an inorganic, insoluble compound that is not subject to enzymatic metabolism. In a clinical study in patients with hyperkalemia in which zirconium concentrations were measured in the urine and blood, zirconium concentrations were similar in treated and untreated patients (i.e., either undetectable or around the lower limit of quantification of the assay). An in vivo mass balance study in rats showed that LOKELMA was recovered in the feces with no evidence of systemic absorption.
Drug Interactions Thirty-six (36) drugs were tested in-vitro to determine potential interactions with LOKELMA. Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). Nine (9) of the 20 drugs that showed an in vitro interaction were subsequently tested in vivo with LOKELMA 10 gin healthy volunteers.
Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. These changes are consistent with the hypothesis that LOKELMA, by elevating gastric pH, affects the systemic exposure of co-administered drugs whose solubility is pH-dependent [see Drug Interactions (7) ] .
In another drug-drug interaction study in healthy volunteers, co-administration of LOKELMA 15 g decreased the systemic exposures of tacrolimus (Figure 2), likely due to LOKELMA’s action on elevating gastric pH. In the same study, co-administration of LOKELMA and cyclosporine did not show a clinically meaningful interaction. Figure 2: Effects of LOKELMA 10 g or 15 g on the Pharmacokinetic Exposures of Other Orally Administered Medications figure_2
🧬 Mechanism of Action ▾
12.1Mechanism of Action LOKELMA (sodium zirconium cyclosilicate) is a non-absorbed zirconium silicate that preferentially captures potassium in exchange for hydrogen and sodium. In vitro , LOKELMA has a high affinity for potassium ions, even in the presence of other cations such as calcium and magnesium. LOKELMA increases fecal potassium excretion through binding of potassium in the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract.
Binding of potassium reduces the concentration of free potassium in the gastrointestinal lumen, thereby lowering serum potassium levels.
📦 How Supplied / Storage and Handling ▾
16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING Product: 50090-6502 NDC: 50090-6502-0 5 g in a PACKET / 30 in a BOX
📋 Description ▾
11 DESCRIPTION LOKELMA is a powder for oral suspension. The active ingredient in LOKELMA is sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, a potassium binder. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate is a non-absorbed zirconium silicate that preferentially exchanges potassium for hydrogen and sodium.
LOKELMA is an odorless, insoluble white to grey powder for oral suspension. It has a mean particle size of 20 µm and includes no more than 3% of particles with a diameter below 3 µm. Each 5 g of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate contains 400 mg of sodium.
The chemical formula of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate is Na ~1.5 H ~0.5 ZrSi 3 O 9 •2–3H 2 O. Figure 1: Crystal Structure of Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate Figure 1
💬 Information for Patients ▾
17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION Dosing Instruct the patient how to reconstitute LOKELMA for administration. Inform the patient that it is necessary to drink the full dose [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) ] . Instruct dialysis patients who experience acute illness (e.g., decreased oral intake of food or fluids, diarrhea) to contact the health care provider.
The dose of Lokelma may need to be adjusted [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ] . Diagnostic Testing Advise patients to notify their physician prior to an abdominal X-ray [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ] . Drug Interactions Advise patients who are taking other oral medications to separate dosing of LOKELMA by at least 2 hours (before or after) [see Drug Interactions (7) ] .
Diet Advise patients to adjust dietary sodium, if appropriate [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . U.S. Patent No: 6332985, 8808750, 8877255, 8802152, 9592253 © AstraZeneca 2021 Manufactured by: AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Wilmington, DE 19850
🧬 Pharmacokinetics ▾
12.3Pharmacokinetics LOKELMA is an inorganic, insoluble compound that is not subject to enzymatic metabolism. In a clinical study in patients with hyperkalemia in which zirconium concentrations were measured in the urine and blood, zirconium concentrations were similar in treated and untreated patients (i.e., either undetectable or around the lower limit of quantification of the assay). An in vivo mass balance study in rats showed that LOKELMA was recovered in the feces with no evidence of systemic absorption.
Drug Interactions Thirty-six (36) drugs were tested in-vitro to determine potential interactions with LOKELMA. Sixteen (16) drugs tested did not show an in vitro interaction with LOKELMA (allopurinol, apixaban, aspirin, captopril, cyclosporine, digoxin, ethinyl estradiol, lisinopril, magnesium, metformin, phenytoin, prednisone, propranolol, quinapril, spironolactone and ticagrelor). Nine (9) of the 20 drugs that showed an in vitro interaction were subsequently tested in vivo with LOKELMA 10 gin healthy volunteers.
Losartan, glipizide and levothyroxine did not show any changes in exposure when co-administered with LOKELMA. However, there was an increase in systemic exposure to weak acids such as furosemide and atorvastatin, and a decrease in systemic exposure to weak bases such as dabigatran when co-administered with LOKELMA, as shown in Figure 2. These changes are consistent with the hypothesis that LOKELMA, by elevating gastric pH, affects the systemic exposure of co-administered drugs whose solubility is pH-dependent [see Drug Interactions (7) ] .
In another drug-drug interaction study in healthy volunteers, co-administration of LOKELMA 15 g decreased the systemic exposures of tacrolimus (Figure 2), likely due to LOKELMA’s action on elevating gastric pH. In the same study, co-administration of LOKELMA and cyclosporine did not show a clinically meaningful interaction. Figure 2: Effects of LOKELMA 10 g or 15 g on the Pharmacokinetic Exposures of Other Orally Administered Medications figure_2
🧬 Pharmacodynamics ▾
12.2Pharmacodynamics In a study in healthy adult subjects, LOKELMA administered as 5 g or 10 g once daily for four days caused a dose-dependent increase in fecal potassium excretion. Corresponding dose-dependent decreases in urinary potassium excretion and serum potassium were also observed. In patients with hyperkalemia treated with LOKELMA 10 g three times a day for up to 48 hours, reductions in serum potassium were observed one hour after initiation of therapy; serum potassium concentrations continued to decline over the 48-hour treatment period [see Clinical Studies (14.2) ] .
In patients not continuing LOKELMA, potassium levels increased. Patients with higher starting serum potassium levels or receiving a higher dose have greater reductions in serum potassium. LOKELMA causes a small dose-dependent increase in serum bicarbonate concentrations (1.1 mmol/L at 5 g once daily, 2.3 mmol/L at 10 g once daily and 2.6 mmol/L at 15 g once daily as compared with a mean increase of 0.6 mmol/L in patients treated with placebo).
The clinical significance of this finding is unclear.
🔬 Clinical Studies ▾
14 CLINICAL STUDIES
14.1Study 1 The effectiveness of LOKELMA in lowering serum potassium was demonstrated in a two-part, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT01737697) in patients with hyperkalemia (5 to 6.5 mEq/L, mean potassium 5.3 mEq/L), Study 1. In the first phase of the trial (the acute phase), 753 patients were randomized to receive one of four doses of LOKELMA (1.25, 2.5, 5 or 10 g) or placebo, administered three times daily for the initial 48 hours with meals. The mean age of patients was 66 years, 59% of patients were men, and 86% were Caucasian.
Approximately 60% of patients had chronic kidney disease, 10% had heart failure, 62% had diabetes mellitus and 67% were on renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor therapy at baseline. The primary endpoint in the acute phase was the difference in the exponential rate of change in serum potassium levels during the initial 48 hours of study drug treatment, comparing placebo-treated patients and LOKELMA-treated patients. The study met its primary endpoint demonstrating a greater reduction in serum potassium levels for the 2.5, 5 and 10 g (three times a day) dose groups compared to the placebo group ( p <0.001).
As displayed in Table 1 for the secondary endpoint of potassium change from baseline, LOKELMA showed dose-dependent reductions in serum potassium at 2.5, 5 and 10 g. In patients administered 10 g TID, the mean serum potassium reduction was -0.7 mEq/L at 48 hours. Patients with higher starting potassium levels had a greater response to LOKELMA.
LOKELMA was effective in lowering potassium levels in patients with chronic kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and those taking RAAS inhibitor therapy. Table 1: Study 1 - Potassium Change from Baseline to 48 hours Mean Serum Potassium Change mEq/L (95% Confidence Intervals) Sample Size Placebo 1.25 g TID 2.5 g TID 5 g TID 10 g TID All Patients -0.2 (-0.3, -0.2) n=158 -0.3 (-0.4, -0.2) n=150 -0.5 (-0.5, -0.4) n=137 -0.5 (-0.6, -0.5) n=152 -0.7 (-0.8, -0.7) n=140 Baseline Serum Potassium >5.5 mEq/L -0.4 (-0.6, -0.3) n=40 -0.3 (-0.5, -0.2) n=40 -0.6 (-0.7, -0.4) n=37 -0.9 (-1.0, -0.7) n=29 -1.1 (-1.3, -0.9) n=22 Patients who achieved a potassium level between 3.5 and 5 mEq/L after receiving LOKELMA during the acute phase were re-randomized to receive once daily placebo or 1.25, 2.5, 5 or 10 g of once daily LOKELMA for 12 days together with breakfast.
The primary endpoint in the maintenance phase was the difference in the exponential rate of change in serum potassium levels over the 12-day treatment interval, comparing patients receiving LOKELMA and patients receiving placebo. The study met the primary efficacy endpoint at the 5 and 10 g doses when compared with their respective placebo groups ( p <0.01 and p <0.001).
14.2Study 2 The efficacy of LOKELMA was also demonstrated in a two-part trial with an open-label acute phase and a month-long randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal phase (Study 2; NCT02088073). In the open-label acute phase of Study 2, 258 patients with hyperkalemia (baseline mean 5.6 mEq/L, range 5.1 to 7.4 mEq/L) received 10 g of LOKELMA administered three times daily with meals for 48 hours. As shown in Figure 3, left , average serum potassium levels decreased from 5.6 to 4.5 mEq/L during treatment with LOKELMA in the acute phase.
Following the acute phase of the study, there was a double-blind randomized withdrawal phase where patients who achieved potassium levels between 3.5 and 5 mEq/L were randomized to one of three doses of LOKELMA administered once-daily for 28 days, or placebo just before breakfast. Of the patients enrolled in the acute phase, 92% achieved a potassium level within this range and were enrolled into the second phase of the trial. The primary endpoint in the randomized withdrawal phase was the mean serum potassium value over the period from Day 8 to Day 29, comparing LOKELMA-treated and placebo-treated patients.
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🧪 Nonclinical Toxicology ▾
13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY
13.1Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility The following tests for mutagenic potential of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate were negative: (1) the Ames ( S. typhimurium and E. coli ) test; (2) chromosomal aberration assay in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells; and (3) in vivo rat micronucleus assay. Given that zirconium cyclosilicate is not genotoxic, not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and did not cause local gastrointestinal alterations in a chronic toxicity study in dogs, carcinogenicity studies in animals to evaluate tumorigenic potential of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate were not deemed to be necessary.
Fertility in male and female rats has been assessed at doses up to a Human Equivalent Dose (HED) of 58 g per day (the maximum feasible dose) with no adverse effects.
📄 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility ▾
13.1Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility The following tests for mutagenic potential of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate were negative: (1) the Ames ( S. typhimurium and E. coli ) test; (2) chromosomal aberration assay in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells; and (3) in vivo rat micronucleus assay. Given that zirconium cyclosilicate is not genotoxic, not absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, and did not cause local gastrointestinal alterations in a chronic toxicity study in dogs, carcinogenicity studies in animals to evaluate tumorigenic potential of sodium zirconium cyclosilicate were not deemed to be necessary.
Fertility in male and female rats has been assessed at doses up to a Human Equivalent Dose (HED) of 58 g per day (the maximum feasible dose) with no adverse effects.
📄 Recent Major Changes ▾
Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) 10/2021
📄 Package Label / Principal Display Panel ▾
sodium zirconium cyclosilicate Label Image
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