TARPEYO was shown to reduce the loss of kidney function in adults with primary IgAN at risk of disease progression in the NefIgArd trial. While the effect on kidney function that was seen during the 9-month treatment period persisted following completion of treatment, TARPEYO did not change the long-term rate of decline in kidney function.
Treatment with corticosteroids, including TARPEYO, is associated with a suppression of endogenous cortisol concentrations and an impairment of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis function.
TARPEYO is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to budesonide or any of the ingredients of TARPEYO. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis have occurred with other budesonide formulations.
Budesonide is a substrate for CYP3A4. Avoid use with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors; e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Avoid ingestion of grapefruit juice with TARPEYO. Intake of grapefruit juice, which inhibits CYP3A4 activity, can increase the systemic exposure to budesonide [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
TARPEYO is indicated to reduce the loss of kidney function in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) who are at risk for disease progression.
Carcinogenicity studies with budesonide were conducted in rats and mice. In a two-year study in Sprague-Dawley rats, budesonide caused a statistically significant increase in the incidence of gliomas in male rats at an oral dose of 50 mcg/kg (approximately 0.03 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) on a body surface area basis). In addition, there were increased incidences of primary hepatocellular tumors in male rats at 25 mcg/kg (approximately 0.015 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis) and above. No tumorigenicity was seen in female rats at oral doses up to 50 mcg/kg (approximately 0.03 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis). In an additional two-year study in male Sprague-Dawley rats, budesonide caused no gliomas at an oral dose of 50 mcg/kg (approximately 0.03 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis). However, it caused a statistically significant increase in the incidence of hepatocellular tumors at an oral dose of 50 mcg/kg (approximately 0.03 times the MRHD of a body surface area basis). The concurrent reference corticosteroids (prednisolone and triamcinolone acetonide) showed similar findings. In a 91-week study in mice, budesonide caused no treatment-related carcinogenicity at oral doses up to 200 mcg/kg (approximately 0.06 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis).
Budesonide was not genotoxic in the Ames test, the mouse lymphoma cell forward gene mutation (TK+/-) test, the human lymphocyte chromosome aberration test, the Drosophila melanogaster sex-linked recessive lethal test, the rat hepatocyte UDS test and the mouse micronucleus test.
In rats, budesonide had no effect on fertility at subcutaneous doses up to 80 mcg/kg (approximately 0.05 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis). However, it caused a decrease in prenatal viability and viability in pups at birth and during lactation, along with a decrease in maternal food consumption and body weight gain, at subcutaneous doses of 20 mcg/kg (approximately 0.012 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis) and above. No such effects were noted at 5 mcg/kg (approximately 0.003 times the MRHD on a body surface area basis).
The safety and efficacy of TARPEYO in pediatric patients have not been established.
The recommended duration of therapy is 9 months, with a dosage of 16 mg administered orally once daily [see Clinical Studies (14.1)]. When discontinuing therapy, reduce the dosage to 8 mg once daily for the last 2 weeks of therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
The delayed release capsules should be swallowed whole in the morning, at least 1 hour before a meal. Do not open, crush or chew.
If a dose is missed, take the prescribed dose at the next scheduled time. Do not double the next dose.
Safety and efficacy of treatment with subsequent courses of TARPEYO have not been established.
Corticosteroids, including TARPEYO, suppress the immune system and increase the risk of infection with any pathogen, including viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, or helminthic pathogens. Corticosteroids can:
Corticosteroid-associated infections can be mild but can be severe and at times fatal. The rate of infectious complications increases with increasing corticosteroid dosages.
Monitor for the development of infection and consider TARPEYO withdrawal as needed.
Delayed release capsule containing 4 mg budesonide. White coated opaque capsules printed with “CAL10 4MG” in black ink.
TARPEYO is a systemically available corticosteroid and is expected to cause related adverse reactions. Monitor patients with hypertension, prediabetes, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, peptic ulcer, glaucoma or cataracts, or with a family history of diabetes or glaucoma, or with any other condition where corticosteroids may have unwanted effects.
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (Patient Information).
Advise patients that TARPEYO may cause hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression and to follow a taper schedule, as instructed by their healthcare provider if discontinuing therapy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)].
TARPEYO causes immunosuppression. Advise patients to avoid exposure to people with chicken pox or measles and, if exposed, to consult their healthcare provider immediately. There is an increased risk of developing a variety of infections, including worsening of existing tuberculosis, fungal, bacterial, viral or parasitic infections, or ocular herpes simplex, and to contact their healthcare provider if they develop any symptoms of infection [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)]. Provide advice regarding vaccination schedules for immunocompromised patients.
Advise patients that TARPEYO delayed release capsules should be swallowed whole and not chewed, crushed or broken and to take TARPEYO in the morning, at least 1 hour before a meal [See Dosage and Administration (2)].
Advise patients to avoid the consumption of grapefruit juice for the duration of their TARPEYO therapy [See Drug Interactions (7.1)].
TARPEYO is a registered trademark of Calliditas Therapeutics AB, or its affiliates.
© 2024 Calliditas Therapeutics AB (publ)
Manufactured for and distributed by: Calliditas Therapeutics AB
Stockholm, Sweden
Patent: http://www.calliditas.com/patents
TARPEYO (budesonide) delayed release capsules 4 mg, are white opaque- coated capsules marked with “CAL10 4 MG” in black ink on the body of the capsule. They are supplied as follows:
NDC 81749-004-01: Bottles of 120 capsules. Child-resistant cap.
Store at 20-25°C (68 - 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F). [See USP Controlled Room Temperature].
Keep container tightly closed. Protect from moisture.
Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B and C, respectively) could be at an increased risk of hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression due to an increased systemic exposure to budesonide [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. Avoid use in patients with severe hepatic impairments (Child-Pugh Class C). Monitor for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B).
Reports of acute toxicity and/or death following overdosage of corticoids are rare.
In the event of acute overdosage, no specific antidote is available. Treatment consists of supportive and symptomatic therapy.
When corticosteroids are used chronically, systemic effects such as hypercorticism and adrenal suppression may occur. Corticosteroids can reduce the response of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis to stress. In situations where patients are subject to surgery or other stress situations, supplementation with a systemic corticosteroid is recommended. When discontinuing therapy [see Dosing and Administration (2)] or switching between corticosteroids, monitor for signs of adrenal axis suppression.
Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B and C respectively) could be at an increased risk of hypercorticism and adrenal axis suppression due to an increased systemic exposure of oral budesonide. Avoid use in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class C). Monitor for increased signs and/or symptoms of hypercorticism in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh Class B) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Clinical studies of TARPEYO did not include sufficient numbers of subjects aged 65 and over to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects. Other reported clinical experience has not identified differences in responses between the elderly and younger patients. In general, dose selection for an elderly patient should be cautious, reflecting the greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function, and of concomitant disease or other drug therapy.
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of TARPEYO was evaluated in 389 patients in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, NefIgArd (NCT: 03643965, Phase 3 clinical study in adults with primary IgAN). The data below reflect TARPEYO exposure in 195 patients with a median duration of 41 weeks, compared with comparable exposure to placebo in 194 patients.
The most common adverse reactions, reported in greater than or equal to 5% of TARPEYO-treated patients and greater than or equal to 2% higher than placebo, in the 9-month treatment period are listed in Table 1.
Most adverse reactions that occurred at a greater incidence for TARPEYO compared to placebo were consistent with hypercortisolism and reversible, resolving within 3 months after discontinuation.
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:
TARPEYO (budesonide) delayed release capsules, for oral administration, contain budesonide, a synthetic corticosteroid, as the active ingredient. Budesonide is designated chemically as 16α, 17α-[(1RS)-Butylidenebis(oxy)]-11β, 21-dihydroxypregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione.
Budesonide is provided as a mixture of two epimers (22R and 22S). The empirical formula of budesonide is C25H34O6 and its molecular weight is 430.5. Its structural formula is:
Budesonide is a white to off-white, tasteless, odorless powder that is practically insoluble in water, sparingly soluble in alcohol, and freely soluble in chloroform.
The beads in each capsule contain the following inactive ingredients: sugar spheres (sucrose and starch), hypromellose, polyethylene glycol, citric acid monohydrate, ethyl cellulose, medium chain triglycerides and oleic acid. The capsule shells contain hypromellose and titanium oxide (E171); and the printing ink on the capsules contain shellac, propylene glycol and black iron oxide (E172). The enteric coating on the capsules contain: methacrylic acid and methacrylate copolymer, talc and dibutyl sebacate.

Budesonide is a corticosteroid with potent glucocorticoid activity and weak mineralocorticoid activity that undergoes substantial first pass metabolism. Mucosal B-cells present in the ileum, including the Peyer's patches, express glucocorticoid receptors and are responsible for the production of galactose-deficient IgA1 antibodies (Gd-Ag1) causing IgA nephropathy. Through their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects at the glucocorticoid receptor, corticosteroids can modulate B-cell numbers and activity. It has not been established to what extent TARPEYO's efficacy is mediated via local effects in the ileum vs systemic effects.