Astellas Pharma Europe Limited's (Public, TYO:4503) Advagraf®, a once daily immunosuppressant, is now available across the EU making life a little easier for patients that have had organ transplants.
Advagraf® is the first calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) with a once a day dosing option which should increase patient's likelihood of taking their medication as prescribed. The more often a patient needs to take a medication, the more likely they are to adhere to the medication regime.
"A once-daily dosing option for a cornerstone CNI immunosuppressant is great news for both patients and physicians, and is a big step forward in addressing the growing concern of nonadherence," explained Professor Rutger Ploeg, Secretary General, European Society for Organ Transplant.
Most organ transplant recipients take multiple drugs which makes life-long adherence a challenge. Previous research suggests that 20% to 50% of transplant patients fail to take their medications as prescribed and thus put themselves at risk of medical problems.
[Source: MedicalNewsToday]
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