April 14, 2008- Advagraf(TM) (tacrolimus extended release capsules), marketed by Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc., has been approved by Health Canada for the prevention of organ rejection in patients receiving an allogeneic kidney transplant.(1) Patients who have received a kidney transplant now have access to a new once-a-day immunosuppressant therapy.
"Kidney transplantation is a life-altering experience which places a great deal of responsibility on a patient to take multiple medications at different times of the day to avoid compromising the kidney transplant," says Dr. Sita Gourishankar, a nephrologist in the University of Alberta's Department of Nephrology. "A once-daily anti-rejection therapy will be of considerable benefit and will help simplify the drug regimen required by post-transplant patients."
Extended release tacrolimus is a new formulation of Prograf(R), (tacrolimus twice daily), a leading immunosuppressant agent developed and marketed by Astellas.(2) Tacrolimus twice daily has been available in Canada since 1997. Both extended release tacrolimus and tacrolimus twice daily, which is indicated for prevention of kidney, liver and heart transplant rejection, are indicated for use concomitantly with corticosteroids and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF).(3)
"Because this is a once-a-day therapy, Advagraf helps streamline the number of medications patients need to take. This is an important step forward to improve long-term adherence to immunosuppressant therapy," says Barbara Reynolds, Director of New Product Development at Astellas Pharma Canada, Inc. "Astellas is very pleased to be able to offer the Canadian transplant community a new therapeutic option that not only helps prevent organ rejection, but that is more convenient for patients."
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