Once-daily dosing of delayed-release oral mesalamine (400-mg tablet) is as effective as twice-daily dosing for maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS:

The practice of dosing mesalamines in divided doses for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) began with sulfasalazine and was driven by sulfapyridine toxicity. This convention and the assumption that dosing multiple times a day is necessary to treat UC had not been challenged until recently. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of once-daily dosing of delayed-release mesalamine (Asacol 400-mg tablets) compared with twice-daily dosing for maintaining remission in UC patients.

METHODS:

A multicenter, randomized, investigator-blinded, 12-month, active-control trial was conducted to assess the noninferiority of delayed-release mesalamine 1.6-2.4 g/day administered once daily compared with twice daily in patients with mild-to-moderate UC currently in clinical remission. The primary end point was maintenance of clinical remission at month 6.

RESULTS:

A total of 1023 patients were randomized and dosed. The primary objective of noninferiority was met. At month 6, 90.5% of patients receiving once-daily dosing had maintained clinical remission, compared with 91.8% of patients receiving twice-daily dosing (95% confidence interval for twice daily - once daily, -2.3 to 4.9). At month 12, 85.4% of patients receiving once-daily dosing had maintained clinical remission, compared with 85.4% of patients receiving twice-daily dosing (95% confidence interval for twice daily - once daily, -4.6 to 4.7). Both regimens had low rates of withdrawals as a result of adverse events and serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

Once-daily dosing of delayed-release mesalamine at doses of 1.6-2.4 g/day was shown to be as effective as twice-daily dosing for maintenance of clinical remission in patients with UC.

• Authors: William J Sandborn, Joshua Korzenik, Bret Lashner, Jonathan A Leighton, Uma Mahadevan, James F Marion, Michael Safdi, Charles A Sninsky, Raman M Patel, Keith A Friedenberg, Preston Dunnmon, David Ramsey, Sunanda Kane
• Journal: Gastroenterology (Gastroenterology) Vol. 138 Issue 4 Pg. 1286-96, 1296.e1-3 (Apr 2010) ISSN: 1528-0012 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20064514 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: 2010 AGA Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Mesalamine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal (therapeutic use)
• Colitis, Ulcerative (drug therapy)
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Mesalamine (administration & dosage, adverse effects)
• Middle Aged