Astellas applies for ulcerated colitis approval

Astellas Pharma has applied for its treatment Prograf to be approved as a treatment for ulcerative colitis, it has announced.

Prograf is currently approved in Japan for use during bone marrow transplants, systemic myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus nephritis.

Ulverated colitis occurs when the large intestines become inflamed, eroded and ulcerated. Typical symptoms include persistent or repetitive mucous and bloody stools.

Prograf aims to reduce the inflammation by suppressing production of inflammatory cytokines from activated T-lymphocytes.

Astellas’ business is focused on four key therapy areas – transplantation, urology, dermatology, and anti-infectives.

The drug is already sold in more than 80 countries and nets around $2 billion (one million pounds) annually.

In Europe the company has 19 sales and marketing affiliates, three production plants and one research and development facility. It’s research and developent headquarters are in the Netherlands.

The Japanese company’s UK business is based in Staines, Middlesex, where it employs about 250 members of staff.