Ferring study shows benefits of once-daily Pentasa for ulcerative colitis

Ferring's anti-inflammatory drug has been shown to be effective as a once-daily therapy for ulcerative colitis in a new clinical trial.

A recent subanalysis of the clinical study Motus showed that a once-daily 4g dose of Pentasa granules (mesalazine) was non-inferior to the twice-daily 2g dose in inducing remission in patients with left-sided active ulcerative colitis.

The once-daily indication was shown to offer similar levels of effectiveness in terms of rates of remission and mucosal healing among the more than 200 patients enrolled in the trial.

Professor Bernard Flourie of the Lyon Sud Hospital in France said: "These results show that patients with active, left-sided ulcerative colitis may benefit from the convenience of once-daily dosing of mesalazine granules."

Pentasa is also approved as a therapy for Crohn's disease, another inflammatory bowel condition, in a number of countries.

The drug is one of several offerings from Ferring's gastroenterology portfolio, which also includes brands such as Picoprep and Glypressin.