Eisai introduces Aricept in oral jelly form

Eisai has announced the availability of its Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment Aricept in oral jelly form.

The product comes in doses of 3 mg, 5 mg and 10 mg and will be available as of December 2nd 2009.

This new formulation of the product was granted marketing authorisation on July 13th of this year and is the world’s first treatment for AD that comes in the form of an oral jelly.

Available in a cup-shaped packet, the treatment addresses the difficulty some AD patients experience in swallowing, as it can be taken without water and is sweet honey lemon-flavoured.

The acetylcholinesterase inhibitor Aricept increases brain levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine and is approved for the treatment of AD in all stages of advancement.

In other Eisai news, last month the firm launched the Lusedra (fospropofol disodium) injection, a treatment designed for use in patients in need of an intravenous sedative-hypnotic agent.