PROGRAF MR

Once-Daily MR (Modified Release) Prograf(R) Formulation Shown to Have Equivalent Efficacy and Safety to Twice-Daily Prograf(R) or Neoral(R) in Kidney Transplant RecipientsBOSTON, Massachusetts, July 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Research presented at the World Transplant Congress in Boston, USA today shows that using once-daily MR Prograf(R) (tacrolimus) in newly transplanted kidney patients is equivalent to the current twice-daily immunosuppressant options - either standard Prograf(R) or Neoral(R) (ciclosporin). In addition, both formulations of Prograf(R) also showed significantly less treatment failure and better renal function than patients treated with Neoral(R). Studies in adult kidney, adult liver and paediatric liver transplant recipients have shown the efficacy and safety of converting from twice-daily Prograf(R) to once-daily MR Prograf(R) in a 1:1 (mg:mg) total daily dose basis. One of the studies presented today at the WTC was the one-year follow-up results in paediatric liver transplant recipients converted from twice-daily Prograf(R) to once-daily MR Prograf(R). Recipients enrolled in the study were aged between five and 12 years and were evaluated based on dosing and trough levels, laboratory values, concomitant medications, graft survival and adverse events. In the 18 paediatric transplant recipients taking once-daily MR Prograf(R) for one year, there were no patient deaths, no graft losses, no acute rejection and laboratory values remained stable.