Eisai Launches New Oral Jelly Formulation of Aricept® World's first oral jelly formulation for Alzheimer's disease treatment

For Print December 1, 2009 Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and CEO: Haruo Naito) today announced the launch of a new formulation of its Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment, Aricept® Oral Jelly 3mg, Aricept® Oral Jelly 5mg, and Aricept® Oral Jelly 10mg. The new products will be available on the Japanese market from December 2. The new formulation of Aricept®, which was granted marketing authorisation by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on July 13, 2009, is the world's first oral jelly formulation of an AD treatment. It was listed on the NHI (National Health Insurance) drug price list on November 13 this year. AD patients often have difficulties ingesting tablets or fine granule formulations due to a decline in their ability to swallow. The new formulation, flavoured with sweet honey lemon, will be easier for such patients to take as it has the right softness that can be broken up with the tongue and swallowed without water. As the jelly comes in a cup-shaped packet, it is able to be divided up with a spoon and administered to patients according to their ability to ingest or swallow. Aricept® is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor developed by Eisai. It increases brain levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. It is the only anti-Alzheimer's drug approved in Japan and it is indicated for the treatment of all stages of AD; mild, moderate and severe. It is estimated that there are approximately 1.31 million people in Japan who currently have AD, and this number continues to rise every year along with the advancement of the aging population. In Japan, the current Aricept® product portfolio includes film-coated tablet, fine granule, and orally disintegrating tablet formulations. Through the addition of the new oral jelly formulation that aims to further improve drug compliance among AD patients, Eisai will continue to make further contributions to increasing the benefits of patients, and their families and caregivers. [Please refer to the following notes for product] Contact: PR Department Eisai Co., Ltd. +81-(0)3-3817-5120 < Notes to Editors > Overview of Aricept® Product Portfolio (new products are underlined) 1) Product Names Aricept® Tablets 3mg, Aricept® Tablets 5mg, Aricept® Tablets 10mg Aricept® D Tablets 3mg, Aricept® D Tablets 5mg, Aricept® D Tablets 10mg Aricept® Fine Granules 0.5% Aricept® Oral Jelly 3mg , Aricept® Oral Jelly 5mg , Aricept® Oral Jelly 10mg 2) Indications/Dosage and Administration Indications Suppression of progression of dementia symptoms in dementia of the Alzheimer's type Dosage and Administration The recommended initial adult dose for oral use is 3 mg of donepezil hydrochloride once daily. After one to two weeks the dosage is increased to 5 mg. The dosage for patients with severe dementia of the Alzheimer's type is increased to 10 mg after dosing at 5mg for 4 or more weeks. Dose should be adjusted appropriately according to patients' symptoms. 3) NHI Drug Price Standard *You can scroll to the left or right here Products Specification Drug Price (yen) Aricept® Tablets 3mg 3mg tablet 289.00/tablet Aricept® D Tablets 3mg 3mg tablet 289.00/tablet Aricept® Tablets 5mg 5mg tablet 433.80/tablet Aricept® D Tablets 5mg 5mg tablet 433.80/tablet Aricept® Fine Granules 0.5% 0.5% gram 407.90/gram Aricept® Tablets 10mg 10mg tablet 775.60/tablet Aricept® D Tablets 10mg 10mg tablet 775.60/tablet Aricept® Oral Jelly 3mg 3mg unit 282.70/unit Aricept® Oral Jelly 5mg 5mg unit 433.80/unit Aricept® Oral Jelly 10mg 10mg unit 775.60/unit Full text

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