Astellas Pharma has announced that its immunosuppressant Graceptor capsules 0.5mg, 1mg and 5mg are now available in Japan with the indication of ‘suppression of organ rejection’ and ‘suppression of graft rejection and graft versus host disease in bone marrow transplantation’.
Graceptor is a once-daily modified release formulation of Astellas’s Prograf (tacrolimus, twice-daily formulation). Tacrolimus works as an immunosuppressant by inhibiting activation of T-cell.
Graceptor maintains its efficacy and safety at the similar level with the existing drug, Prograf, said Astellas. Once-daily administration possibly contributes to reduce physical and mental stress for patients who need to take several different medications in a long term. It is expected to improve compliance with its more convenient once-daily dosing option, and may lead to improve long-term outcomes of transplantation.
Once-daily formulation of Prograf has been available with the brand name Advagraf in 19 countries worldwide including Europe. Astellas expects to provide a new option for transplant medication with the new lineup for Prograf family.
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