Japanese drug maker Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited has launched its antiplatelet agent Efient Tablets 20mg (JAN: Prasugrel Hydrochloride; approval to market: January 20, 2016; NHI drug price listing: May 25, 2016) in Japan.

Efient is an oral antiplatelet agent discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and its Japanese research partner, Ube Industries, Limited. The results of phase 3 clinical trials in domestic and overseas patients with ischemic heart disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) demonstrated that Efient reduces the incidence of ischemic events from the perioperative period of PCI by rapidly reducing platelet aggregation activity.

Domestically, Efient Tablets have been sold in 3.75mg/5mg dosages since May 2014. Under the current dosage regimen, Efient should be initiated with a single 20mg oral dose, and then continued at a 3.75mg once daily oral dose as a maintenance dose.
Under the current dosage regime, four 5mg tablets have been used for the initial loading dose, leading to this introduction of a single 20mg tablet. Daiichi Sankyo expects that reducing the burden at the time of use for this drug will contribute to a higher level of care for all patients and medical personnel involved in the treatment of ischemic heart diseases.