QOL Medical’s Sucraid Single-Use Containers Approved For Patients With Sucrase Deficiency

QOL Medical, a rare disease pharmaceutical company, has announced the US FDA approval of its Sucraid (sacrosidase) oral solution single-use containers for patients with congenital sucrase-isomaltase deficiency (CSID). Sucraid was originally approved in 1998, and is also available in multi-dose bottles. 

“FDA’s approval of Sucraid single-use containers, with three-day room temperature stability, offer greater convenience for CSID patients on the go,” said Weng Tao, Ph.D., COO of QOL Medical.

Unable To Digest 

CSID is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by the deficiency or absence of the enzymes sucrase and isomaltase. People with CSID are unable to digest sucrose, a sugar found in many fruits and vegetables, as well as added to many processed foods. Adults with CSID may show symptoms of abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea, similar to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms. In infants, CSID is characterized by watery diarrhea, diaper rash, and acidic stools. The disease is typically managed with a low-sucrose or sucrose-free diet, with a low-starch or starch-free diet advised in some cases. 

Sucraid, an enzyme replacement therapy, is the only pharmaceutical treatment for CSID. The oral solution contains sucrase (sacrosidase) obtained from baker’s yeast and glycerin. Sucraid relieves many symptoms of CSID associated with sucrose ingestion. However, Sucraid does not break down some sugars that come from the digestion of starch, so it may still need to be restricted in the diet. It also comes with the risk of side effects such as worse abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea. 

Sucraid is only available via prescription from a specialty pharmacy. To support CSID patients nationwide, QOL Medical has partnered with Optum Frontier Therapies, a specialty pharmacy and distribution business with a focus on rare diseases. 

Author

Joy Lin

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