Advagraf® Now Available In Germany And The UK As A Once-Daily Immunosuppressant In Organ Transplantation

Main Category: Transplants / Organ Donations
Also Included In: Immune System / Vaccines
Article Date: 20 Jun 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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Astellas announced that Advagraf® (generic name: tacrolimus, prolonged release), a once-daily immunosuppressant for use in organ transplantation, is now available in Germany and the UK.

The European Commission approved Advagraf® on April 23, 2007 for the prophylaxis of transplant rejection in adult kidney or liver allograft recipients and for the treatment of allograft rejection resistant to treatment with other immunosuppressive drugs in adult patients in Europe.

Advagraf® is a once-daily formulation of Prograf® (tacrolimus, twice-daily formulation), the leading immunosuppressive agent developed by Astellas. Advagraf® is expected to improve long-term compliance with its more convenient once-daily dosing option, and may have the potential to reduce the incidence of chronic rejection and graft loss. A recent study in kidney transplant recipients was able to show a statistically significant improvement in adherence associated with once-daily dosing compared with twice-daily dosing regimens1 .

Prograf® is marketed in over 70 countries around the world for the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation. As a leading company in the transplantation community throughout Europe, Astellas aims to further advance the care and management of people with organ transplants with the availability of Advagraf®.

The availability of Advagraf® in the UK and Germany represents the first of a Europe-wide launch, with additional country launches to follow-on throughout the year.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Europe Limited, located in the UK, is a European subsidiary of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc. Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. The organisation is committed to becoming a global pharmaceutical company by combining outstanding R&D and marketing capabilities and continuing to grow in the world pharmaceutical market. Astellas Pharma Europe is responsible for 19 affiliate offices located across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, 2 R&D establishments and 3 manufacturing plants with approximately 3,000 staff.

References

1. Weng, FL., Israni, AK., Joffe, MM., et al. Race and electronically measured adherence to immunosuppressive medications after deceased donor renal transplantation. J Am Soc Nephrol 2005; 16(6): 1839-1848. .

Astellas Pharma Europe Limited, UK

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