Astellas Pharma confirms availability of Lexiscan

Astellas Pharma has announced Lexiscan (regadenosan) injections will be made available for commercial use as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide MPI in patients unable to undertake adequate exercise stress.

Lexiscan, developed with CV Therapeutics, is the first A2A adenosine receptor agonist which has been found to be effective and safe in such tests.

Gregory Thomas, clinical associate professor of medicine and director of nuclear cardiology education at the University of California, said increasing numbers of patients were requiring pharmacologic stress agents for MPI studies.

He commented: “Lexiscan will be an important option in helping to ensure proper diagnosis of coronary artery disease in these patients.”

MPI tests, or cardiac stress tests, are used to identify poor blood flow in the heart.

Some patients use a treadmill to generate the increased blood flow necessary to conduct the test.

However, about half of patients who require cardiac stress tests are unable to use a treadmill due to medical conditions.

These patients are given a pharmacologic stress agent that mimics the increase in blood flow through the heart generated by exercise.

Earlier this week, Astellas Pharma announced the launch of 75mg fluvoxamine maleate tablets.