Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Coalition (EPIC)

The Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency Coalition (EPIC) is a coalition of likeminded organizations that advocates on behalf of patients who are living with enzyme deficiencies. The mission of EPIC is to ensure that patients living with enzyme deficiencies can access treatments and services that are appropriate for them.

The vision of EPIC is a society in which patients who are living with enzyme deficiencies, in consultation with their health care providers and loved ones, can make informed and individually-appropriate decisions about their health care, and those decisions are not overridden by third parties.

We believe that patients with enzyme deficiencies should have access to a broad selection of treatments appropriate for their conditions. We believe that third parties, such as insurers, should not interfere with the practitioner-patient relationship. We believe that patients with enzyme deficiencies and their caregivers should be empowered with the tools they need to overcome barriers that prevent them from accessing medically necessary treatment.

The pancreas creates both endocrine and exocrine, which both play a role in the body’s digestive system. Exocrine Pancreatic Deficiency (EPI) is a condition characterized by the absence of the exocrine enzyme that is required for the body to be able to digest food. EPI causes gastrointestinal upset and can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients from food. The underlying enzyme deficiency that produces EPI is caused by other conditions, such as Chronic Pancreatitis, Cystic Fibrosis, Crohn’s Disease, Celiac Disease, and diabetes. EPI is commonly treated using pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) and vitamin supplements. PERT works by replacing the digestive enzymes that the pancreas would ordinarily produce. When taken with food, these medications assist the body in breaking down and digesting food. People living with EPI need to maintain continuous access to these medications to sustain their health.