Advagraf launched in UK and Germany

Japanese drug major Astellas has launched Advagraf (tacrolimus prolonged-release) in the UK and Germany after the drug was approved earlier this year by the European Commission 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 (Marketletter May 7).

Advagraf is a once-daily formulation of Prograf (tacrolimus, twice-daily formulation), the leading immunosuppressive agent developed by Astellas. The drug 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 showed a statistically-significant improvement in adherence associated with once-daily dosing compared with twice-daily dosing regimens, Astellas noted.

Prograf is marketed in over 70 countries around the world for the prevention of organ rejection in transplantation. The debut of Advagraf in the UK and Germany represents the first of a Europe-wide roll-out, with additional country launches to follow on throughout the year, the firm noted.