Once daily mesalazine induces remission in colitis
A new 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drug formulation for ulcerative
colitis is likely to be launched in the UK next year, allowing once daily
dosing for a condition in which compliance is a particular problem.
Data on the drug, MMX mesalazine, from a study of 517 patients with mild
to moderate ulcerative colitis, were presented at the United European
Gastroenterology Week meeting held in Berlin last week and show the new
formulation is effective in inducing remission compared with placebo.
At eight weeks, 37 per cent of patients receiving 2.4g/day MMX mesalazine
and 35 per cent receiving 4.8g/day achieved remission compared with 17
per cent of those receiving placebo (P<0.001).
Mike Kamm, director of the inflammatory bowel disease unit at St Mark’s
Hospital, London, also presented preliminary data from a study which
suggest that MMX mesalazine is significantly more effective in inducing
remission than a current three times daily 5-ASA treatment.
The new formulation uses a gastroresistant polymer film to delay release
until the drug reaches the terminal ileum, where prolonged release of
the active drug is maintained consistently using “multi matrix
system” technology.
Professor Kamm said: “We know compliance is a big deal in ulcerative
colitis with only about 40 per cent of patients in remission taking their
medication, leading to a five times increase risk of relapse.” There
have also been suggestions that higher rates of relapse are associated
with an increased risk of colo-rectal cancer for ulcerative colitis patients. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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