The FINANCIAL — Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited on December 15 announced that “Leuplin PRO for Injection Kit 22.5 mg” (hereafter 24-week depot formulation), the 24-week depot formulation of “Leuplin” (generic name: leuprorelin acetate; hereafter “Leuplin”), is now available in Japan for the treatment of prostate cancer and premenopausal breast cancer.
Leuplin is an LH-RH agonist that consistently stimulates the pituitary gland, resulting in suppressed production of male/female hormone. Leuplin is used as a treatment for hormone-dependent diseases such as prostate cancer and premenopausal breast cancer, and it is currently available in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The 24-week depot formulation becomes available for the first time in the world for the treatment of premenopausal breast cancer, according to Takeda.
The 24-week depot formulation can maintain stable blood concentration by sustained release using Takeda’s unique microcapsule formulation technology through 24 weeks with a single injection. The new formulation providing sustained efficacy over a 24-week period will be a valuable addition to the available dosing options and provides the added benefit of less frequent dosing thus helping reduce the burden of treatment for patients with prostate cancer and premenopausal breast cancer.
“Given the high unmet needs that remain among patients with prostate cancer and premenopausal breast cancer, we have continued the Research and Development with our drug delivery for Leuplin even after its launch in Japan in 1992,” said Masato Iwasaki, Ph.D., Director and President, Japan Pharma Business Unit of Takeda. “We are confident that the new 24-week depot formulation will help ease the various burden of treatment for patients with prostate cancer and premenopausal breast cancer”.
