Astellas launches Flomaxtra XL
pharmafile | September 27, 2005 | News story | Sales and Marketing |
Astellas has launched Flomaxtra XL, a new treatment for the symptoms of BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The condition is the enlargement of the prostate gland that obstructs the bladder and impairs urination, and affects around one in five men aged 50-59, rising to one in three in the over-60s.
Astellas was recently created through the merger of Fujisawa and Yamanouchi, the latter's biggest-selling product being Flomax (tamsulosin), the precursor to the new drug.
Flomax MR, a modified release version of the original drug remains the company's biggest-selling drug in the UK, and the biggest seller in the therapy area, earning nearly £40 million in England last year.
Astellas is looking to maintain its sales when Flomax MR's UK patent expires in February 2006. As part of this strategy, Astellas is withdrawing Flomax MR in October and replacing it with Flomaxtra XL. The new drug is being priced at £17.55 for a 30-tablet pack, representing a 15% discount on Flomax MR.
Flomaxtra XL uses an innovative new delivery system to produce a more consistent release of its active ingredient tamsulosin over 24 hours – which the company says helps reduce the need for patients to urinate during the night.
A recent NOP survey of over 200 GPs revealed that 93% of their patients reported this inconvenient symptom as one of their top three most bothersome symptoms of BPH.
The company said the new formulation has shown fewer cardiovascular side-effects compared with conventional tamsulosin, with a smaller effect on blood pressure, minimal heart rate increases and fewer orthastatic episodes.
Dr Mark Speakman, consultant urologist, Taunton Hospital commented: "Whilst we should remember that for many years Flomax has been and still is a highly effective, top level treatment in this area, Flomaxtra XL potentially brings even greater benefit. In addition to the improvement in nocturia, the smoother 24-hour release of the drug has very encouraging implications in terms of side-effect profile in comparison with existing therapies."
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