Astellas Launches Graceptor In Japan
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Astellas announced it launched a once-daily capsule of immunosuppressant Graceptor (tacrolimus) Oct. 28 in Japan. The modified release drug uses the same ingredient as twice-daily Prograf. As patent protection for Astellas' blockbuster drug Prograf is to expire by December 2010, the company launched the modified release version to maximum profits. Graceptor is currently available in 19 countries, and is sold under the name Advagraf in Germany. An approval application in the U.S. is delayed as U.S. FDA requested the company to submit additional data to show efficacy. (Click here for more - Japanese language