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Starting patients on
Gattex

step 1

Complete the GATTEX Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program

The purpose of GATTEX (teduglutide) REMS is to inform healthcare providers, patients, and caregivers about the following risks:

  • Acceleration of neoplastic growth and enhancement of colon polyp growth
  • Gastrointestinal obstruction
  • Biliary and pancreatic disorders

Please review REMS education materials and complete the knowledge assessment at www.gattexrems.com. REMS materials are also available through your GATTEX representative.

step 2

Counsel your patient

Please share the appropriate REMS materials with your patients and their caregivers, including:

  • The Medication Guide prior to starting therapy, ensuring they fully understand the risks and benefits of GATTEX
  • The Patient & Caregiver Counseling Guide to review during each visit
  • Both resources are available at www.gattexrems.com

Please ensure the patient or their caregiver has filled out their section of the Start Form, reviewed the patient authorizations, and signed the Start Form.

After they have signed the Start Form, give your patient or their caregiver the Guidance for Patients resource to provide more information about available Takeda Patient Support services for patients on GATTEX.

  • Please be sure to fill out the Patient Support Manager (PSM) and Onboarding & Access Specialist (OAS) contact information provided by your Regional Business Manager (RBM) prior to giving it to the patient or their caregiver
step 3

Submit the Takeda Patient Support Start Form with signed patient consent

The Start Form serves as the prescription for GATTEX and enrolls your patients in Takeda Patient Support.

  • Takeda Patient Support provides product support services to eligible patients prescribed GATTEX, including arranging specialty pharmacy ordering and providing a dedicated Takeda Patient Support specialist. Refer to the Guidance for Patients resource for more information

Please fill out the insurance and prescribing physician information, diagnosis, etiology, and prescription sections completely. Incomplete forms may cause delays in treatment.

  • Confirm that patient or their caregiver has completed the patient information section of the Start Form and that they’ve read the Takeda Patient Support authorization and consent form
  • Both patient and prescriber signatures are required to authorize this form. If your patient or their caregiver is unable to make it into the office to sign the form, Takeda Patient Support can obtain their consent via alternate methods. If you have any questions about the consent process, please contact your Takeda representative

GATTEX Start Forms are available through your Takeda representative and can be completed the following ways:

  • Fill out and submit the form electronically.
  • Download and complete a physical copy and fax to 1-855-369-3393.

How would you like to complete the GATTEX START FORM?

Please be aware that the GATTEX Start Form is not an insurance prior authorization. For questions, please call 1-866-888-0660.​

step 4

Perform safety assessments within 6 months prior to starting GATTEX treatment

In adult patients:

  • Perform a colonoscopy of the entire colon with removal of polyps
  • Obtain baseline laboratory assessment (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase, and amylase)

For additional adult monitoring timelines,
see here.

In children ≥1 year of age:

  • Perform fecal occult blood testing; if there is unexplained blood in the stool, perform colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy
  • Obtain baseline laboratory assessments (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase, and amylase)

For additional pediatric monitoring timelines, see here.

Monitoring Timeline for adult patients receiving GATTEX

Within 6 months prior to starting GATTEX treatment1:

  • Perform a colonoscopy of the entire colon with removal of polyps1
  • Obtain baseline laboratory assessments (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase, and amylase)1
Ongoing Every 6
months
After 1 year
of GATTEX*
At least every
5 years
Colonoscopy1 Examination of the entire colon with removal of polyps
Laboratory
assessments1
Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
Lipase
Amylase
Clinical evaluations1 Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction
Signs and symptoms of fluid imbalance and fluid overload
Increased absorption of concomitant oral medication(s)
Observation of other adverse events
Colonoscopy after 1 year of GATTEX* and at least every 5 years1
Examination of the entire colon with removal of polyps
Laboratory assessments every 6 months1
Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
Lipase
Amylase
Ongoing clinical evaluations1
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction
Signs and symptoms of fluid imbalance and fluid overload
Increased absorption of concomitant oral medication(s)
Observation of other adverse events

Discontinuation of treatment with GATTEX may result in fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Fluid and electrolyte status should be monitored in patients who discontinue treatment with GATTEX.1

*Follow-up colonoscopy (or alternate imaging) is recommended at the end of 1 year of treatment with GATTEX.1

See how to get your appropriate patients started, or keep reading for information on dosing.

Monitoring timeline for pediatric patients receiving GATTEX

Within 6 months prior to starting GATTEX treatment1:

  • Perform fecal occult blood testing; if there is unexplained blood in the stool, perform colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy1
  • Obtain baseline laboratory assessments (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase, and amylase)1
Ongoing Every 6
months
After 1 year
of GATTEX¶¶¶
Every
year
At least every
5 years
Fecal occult
blood test1
Examine for unexplained blood in stool
Colonoscopy/
Sigmoidoscopy1¶¶¶
Assess for colorectal polyps
Laboratory assessments1 Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
Lipase
Amylase
Clinical
evaluations1
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction
Signs and symptoms of fluid imbalance and fluid overload
Increased absorption of concomitant oral medication(s)
Observation of other adverse events
Fecal occult blood test every year1
Examine for unexplained blood in stool
Colonoscopy/Sigmoidoscopy after 1 year of GATTEX and every 5 years thereafter 1¶¶¶
Assess for colorectal polyps
Laboratory assessments every 6 months1
Bilirubin
Alkaline phosphatase
Lipase
Amylase
Ongoing Clinical Evaluations1
Signs and symptoms of intestinal obstruction
Signs and symptoms of fluid imbalance and fluid overload
Increased absorption of concomitant oral medication(s)
Observation of other adverse events

Discontinuation of treatment with GATTEX may result in fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Fluid and electrolyte status should be monitored in patients who discontinue treatment with GATTEX.1

¶¶¶Colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy is recommended for all children and adolescents after 1 year of treatment, every 5 years thereafter while on continuous treatment with GATTEX, and if they have new or unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding.1

See how to get your appropriate patients started, or keep reading for information on dosing.

  1. GATTEX (teduglutide) for injection [package insert]. Cambridge, MA: Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.
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INDICATION

GATTEX® (teduglutide) for injection is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who are dependent on parenteral support.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions
GATTEX has been associated with acceleration of neoplastic growth, intestinal obstruction, biliary and pancreatic disease, fluid imbalance and fluid overload, and increased absorption of concomitant oral medication. Click here for additional Safety Information.

INDICATION
GATTEX® (teduglutide) for injection is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 1 year of age and older with short bowel syndrome (SBS) who are dependent on parenteral support.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Warnings and Precautions

Acceleration of Neoplastic growth
Intestinal polyps were identified during clinical trials. Postmarketing cases of colorectal, gastric, and small intestinal (duodenum, ileum, and jejunum) polyps have been reported. There is a risk for acceleration of neoplastic growth. In adults, within 6 months prior to starting treatment with GATTEX, perform colonoscopy and an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy with removal of polyps. A follow-up colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy (or alternate imaging) is recommended at the end of 1 year of GATTEX. Subsequent colonoscopies and upper GI endoscopies (or alternate imaging) should be performed every 5 years or more often as needed. If a polyp is found, adherence to current polyp follow-up guidelines is recommended.

In pediatric patients, perform fecal occult blood testing within 6 months prior to initiating treatment with GATTEX. If there is new or unexplained blood in the stool, perform colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy and an upper GI endoscopy. Perform subsequent fecal occult blood testing annually in pediatric patients while they are receiving GATTEX, followed by colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy and an upper GI endoscopy if there is new or unexplained blood in the stool. Colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy is recommended for all pediatric patients after 1 year of treatment and at least every 5 years thereafter while on continuous treatment with GATTEX. Consider upper GI endoscopy (or alternate imaging) during treatment with GATTEX.

In adult and pediatric patients who develop active gastrointestinal malignancy (GI tract, hepatobiliary, pancreatic), discontinue GATTEX. The clinical decision to continue GATTEX in patients with non-gastrointestinal malignancy should be made based on benefit-risk considerations.

Intestinal obstruction
Intestinal obstruction has been reported in clinical trials and postmarketing. In patients who develop intestinal or stomal obstruction, GATTEX should be temporarily discontinued pending further clinical evaluation and management.

Biliary and pancreatic disease
Cholecystitis, cholangitis, cholelithiasis, and pancreatitis have been reported in clinical trials and postmarketing. Laboratory assessment (bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lipase, amylase) should be obtained within 6 months prior to starting GATTEX. Subsequent laboratory tests should be done every 6 months or more often as needed. If clinically meaningful changes are seen, further evaluation is recommended including imaging, and continued treatment with GATTEX should be reassessed.

Fluid imbalance and fluid overload
Fluid overload and congestive heart failure have been observed in clinical trials. If fluid overload occurs, especially in patients with underlying cardiovascular disease, parenteral support should be adjusted and GATTEX treatment reassessed. If significant cardiac deterioration develops while on GATTEX, continued GATTEX treatment should be reassessed.

Discontinuation of treatment with GATTEX may also result in fluid and electrolyte imbalance. Fluid and electrolyte status should be monitored in patients who discontinue treatment with GATTEX.

Increased absorption of concomitant oral medication
In clinical trials, one patient receiving prazepam concomitantly with GATTEX experienced dramatic deterioration in mental status progressing to coma during first week of GATTEX therapy. Patients receiving concomitant oral drugs requiring titration or with a narrow therapeutic index should be monitored for adverse reactions due to potential increased absorption of the concomitant drug. The concomitant drug may require a reduction in dosage.

Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) with GATTEX are abdominal pain, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, abdominal distension, injection site reaction, vomiting, fluid overload, and hypersensitivity.

Use in Specific Populations
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with GATTEX.

Please click here for full Prescribing Information or Información de prescripción en español.