Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are primarily characterized by a deficiency in pancreatic enzyme production. They are also deficient in bicarbonate secretion resulting in a duodenal pH that is in the acidic range (pH below 6.8). It is a well-known scientific fact that pancreatic enzymes require a pH in the basic range (pH above 7.0). Under these more favorable pH conditions, pancreatic lipases are better able to exert their enzymatic (digestive) activity.

PANCRECARB® (pancrelipase) Delayed-Release Capsules, Buffered and Enteric-Coated Microspheres of pancreatic enzymes are prepared at a basic pH range, thereby providing optimized pH activity for lipase, amylase and protease.  The enzyme containing microspheres are protected with a pH sensitive enteric coating to provide resistance against gastric inactivation of the buffered enzymes during gastric transit and enable delivery of the digestive enzymes into the intestine.