Evaluating the Efficacy of RELiZORB in Managing Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Tube-fed Pancreatitis Patients

A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Immobilized Lipase (RELiZORB) During Enteral Nutrition in Patients With Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Secondary to Acute Pancreatitis

This research aims to improve the management of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), a condition that can develop after pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas. EPI occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough enzymes to help the body properly digest food. While pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is commonly used to manage EPI symptoms, it can be challenging for people who rely on feeding tubes. RELiZORB, could help these patients by simplifying the delivery of the enzymes they need. However, RELiZORB has only been studied in people with EPI caused by cystic fibrosis, so its effectiveness in pancreatitis patients remains unknown. This study aims to determine whether RELiZORB is effective for individuals requiring feeding tube support after pancreatitis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Pancreatitis; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI)
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: RELiZORB

Detailed Description

Acute pancreatitis remains one of the leading gastrointestinal causes of hospital admission in the United States. While most cases of pancreatitis are mild and resolve without further complications, approximately 20% progress to necrotizing pancreatitis, and 10% may develop chronic pancreatitis. Although significant attention has been given to the acute management of necrotizing pancreatitis, there is a growing focus on diagnosing and managing the long-term complications of pancreatitis. Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a known complication following acute pancreatitis, with even higher rates observed in cases of necrotizing pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosing and managing EPI is critical, as it has significant implications for patient outcomes and mortality. Despite this, EPI remains underdiagnosed, prompting the publication of multiple guidelines aimed at improving its diagnosis and treatment. The standard treatment for EPI is oral pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). While PERT regimens have proven effective, their use in patients requiring tube feeding is often impractical. Immobilized lipase (RELiZORB) offers potential advantages for patients needing enteral nutrition support due to its ease of use, which can improve compliance. Studies have demonstrated that RELiZORB is safe, well-tolerated, and effective at improving fatty acid absorption. However, these studies were conducted in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Unlike CF, pancreatitis is an acute disease with dynamic physiological changes. Additionally, the goal for patients with EPI due to pancreatitis is to resume full oral nutrition without relying on enteral feeding. Therefore, further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy and impact of RELiZORB in this population.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Casey M Luckhurst, MD; Phone Number: 617-726-2760; Email: cluckhurst@mgb.org
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Yasmin G Hernandez-Barco, MD; Email: yhernandez-barco@mgh.harvard.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114
      • Recruiting
      • Massachusetts General Hospital
      • Contact: Casey M Luckhurst, MD; Phone Number: 617-726-2760; Email: cluckhurst@mgb.org

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient diagnosed with moderate or severe exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI), as defined using the Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency Questionnaire (PEI-Q) symptom score of 1.4 or greater.
• Patient diagnosed with acute, recurrent acute pancreatitis or subacute pancreatitis. Subacute pancreatitis is defined as recent diagnosis of acute pancreatitis with sequelae of the acute episode including infection, pseudocyst, walled-off pancreatic necrosis.
• Patient is currently admitted to the hospital at the time of study enrollment.
• Patient requiring at least 50% of daily caloric and fluid intake through enteral tube feeds.
• Patient is able and willing to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patient with chronic pancreatitis
• Patient is currently intubated and unable to provide consent
• Patient with active gastrointestinal tract cancer
• Patient requiring less than 50% of nutritional support at time of enrollment
• Patient is unable to tolerate any form of enteral nutrition

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: No RELiZORB; Patients will receive tube feeds (via nasogastric or nasojejunal tube) without the use of RELiZORB
Experimental: RELiZORB; Patients will receive tube feeds (via nasogastric or nasojejunal tube) with the use of RELiZORB	Device: RELiZORB; RELiZORB (immobilized lipase) is a therapeutic device designed to enhance fat absorption in patients receiving enteral tube feedings. It works by hydrolyzing fats found in enteral formulas. RELiZORB is a single-use cartridge that connects in-line with enteral feeding sets. It contains lipase covalently bound to small polymer beads, forming a complex called iLipase, which remains within the cartridge. As the enteral formula passes through the cartridge, its fat content is hydrolyzed upon contact with iLipase. This process is especially beneficial for the absorption of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, which require hydrolysis by pancreatic lipase for proper intestinal absorption. RELiZORB is compatible with a wide variety of commercially available enteral formulas.; Other Names: Immobilized Lipase

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency Questionnaire (PEI-Q)	The PEI-Q is an 18-item Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaire designed to help individuals with pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) assess their symptoms and the impact on their health-related quality of life. Created and validated by Adelphi Values UK in collaboration with Abbott, the PEI-Q is available for use in clinical studies without the need to purchase a license. The scoring system ranges from 0 to 4, with higher scores indicating more severe symptoms. A score between 0.6 and 1.4 reflects mild PEI, 1.4 to 1.8 indicates moderate PEI, and a score of 1.8 or higher signifies severe or poorly controlled PEI. Our primary outcome measure is examining the change in baseline PEI-Q symptom score.	Measured at 14 days from randomization

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to oral nutrition	This is defined as the cessation of tube feeding and it serves as an important metric in evaluating patients with EPI, as it may act as a surrogate measure for the restoration of adequate digestive function.	Measured up to 90 days from randomization
Time to treatment failure	Treatment failure is defined as no change from baseline or worsening of the PEI-Q symptom score.	Measured up to 14 days from randomization
Biochemical Profile	Change in baseline biochemical profile including Omega 3 Index, Fat-Soluble Vitamins (A, D, E, K), Albumin, Pre-albumin, and C-Reactive Protein.	Measured at 30, 60, and 90 days from randomization
Stool Assessment	Stool consistency and other features indicative of malabsorption (steatorrhea) will be assessed using the Bristol Stool Scale. Patients will also report the presence of steatorrhea (fatty, oily stools) in a stool log. The Bristol Stool Scale is a medical tool used to classify and describe the form of human feces. It consists of seven types of stool, each representing a different consistency or appearance. Types 1 and 2 indicate constipation, while types 6 and 7 indicate diarrhea. Types 3 and 4 are considered normal and ideal for digestive health.	Measured at 30, 60, and 90 days from randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital
• Collaborators: Alcresta Therapeutics, Inc.
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Casey M Luckhurst, MD, Massachusetts General Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Stevens J, Wyatt C, Brown P, Patel D, Grujic D, Freedman SD. Absorption and Safety With Sustained Use of RELiZORB Evaluation (ASSURE) Study in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis Receiving Enteral Feeding. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2018 Oct;67(4):527-532. doi: 10.1097/MPG.0000000000002110.
• Johnson CD, Williamson N, Janssen-van Solingen G, Arbuckle R, Johnson C, Simpson S, Staab D, Dominguez-Munoz E, Levy P, Connett G, Lerch MM. Psychometric evaluation of a patient-reported outcome measure in pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). Pancreatology. 2019 Jan;19(1):182-190. doi: 10.1016/j.pan.2018.11.013. Epub 2018 Nov 27.
• Johnson CD, Arbuckle R, Bonner N, Connett G, Dominguez-Munoz E, Levy P, Staab D, Williamson N, Lerch MM. Qualitative Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency (PEI) to Inform the Development of a Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) Instrument. Patient. 2017 Oct;10(5):615-628. doi: 10.1007/s40271-017-0233-0.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 28, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 15, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 15, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 13, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 13, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): November 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 15, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 12, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: pancreatitis; enteral nutrition; exocrine pancreatic insufficiency; lipase; RELiZORB
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatitis; Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2024p002758

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No