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Encapsulated mesalamine granules (Apriso) for ulcerative colitis

    The Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
    |May 19, 2009
    PubMed

    Insights

    Apriso is a new mesalamine formulation for ulcerative colitis maintenance. This once-daily treatment offers a reduced pill burden compared to older mesalamine options.

    Area of Science:

    • Gastroenterology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
    • Mesalamine (5-aminosalicylic acid; 5-ASA) is a key anti-inflammatory agent for UC remission.
    • Existing mesalamine formulations often involve frequent dosing and high pill burden.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To introduce Apriso, a novel mesalamine formulation for UC.
    • To highlight Apriso's once-daily dosing regimen.
    • To address limitations of previous mesalamine delivery systems.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of FDA approval and formulation characteristics of Apriso.
    • Comparison of Apriso's dosing frequency and pill burden with existing mesalamine therapies.
    • Discussion of targeted drug delivery principles for mesalamine.

    Main Results:

    • Apriso is FDA-approved for maintaining remission in mild to moderate UC.
    • Apriso offers a once-daily dosing schedule.
    • This formulation aims to improve patient compliance by reducing pill burden.

    Conclusions:

    • Apriso represents an advancement in mesalamine therapy for ulcerative colitis.
    • The once-daily dosing of Apriso may enhance treatment adherence.
    • Newer formulations like Apriso improve upon the delivery and convenience of mesalamine.

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