Astellas launches immunosuppressant clinical trials

Astellas Pharma has initiated a phase II clinical study of an immunosuppressant known as ASP0485 (alefacept).

The firm announced the launch of the study of the compound as a prophylactic treatment to prevent the rejection of renal transplants in patients in Europe and North America.

Offers an innovative mode of operation for the inhibition of T-cell co-stimulation by preventing the interaction between T-cells that play a vital role in immunity and antigen presenting cells, alefacept also potentiates the natural killer cell-mediated apoptosis of the relevant T-cell.

The drug is already approved under the Amevive brand name as a treatment for psoriasis in 12 countries worldwide.

“ASP0485 has a different mechanism from immunosuppressant Prograf, disovered and marketed by Astellas,” the company reports.

“Astellas expects the ASP0485 to be used concomitantly with Prograf.”

The firm adds that further to clinical trials of the compound in Europe and North America, it will also develop the drug worldwide in a number of territories, including Japan.

In March 2007, a letter from the US Food and Drug Administration warned that patients receiving Prograf with mycophenolate mofetil at an initial dose of 2 g/day could experience over-immunosuppression resulting in a rise in infection-related mortality.