Eisai Submits New Formulation For Alzheimer’s Drug Aricept In Japan

TOKYO - Eisai's new oral jelly formulation of Alzheimer's drug Aricept (donepezil) will have no effect on the Japanese company's position in the market, a pharmaceutical analyst and researcher for KBC Securities Japan told PharmAsia News. "It's just a reformulation from an existing product, that already has a lot of patients," analyst Philip Hall said. Eisai announced its application for the new formulation in Japan March 13. The company will not apply for the new formulation in any other country, Eisai Spokeswoman Chie Suzuki told PharmAsia News. "We consider the particular needs of patients in each country and region." "We developed the new formula for this drug in response to the particular needs of patients in Japan," she said. In Japan, Aricept is already available in tablets, fine granules and orally disintegrating tablets. The new formula is the first Alzheimer's disease treatment available in an oral jelly formulation, according to Eisai.