Tokyo :  EA Pharma Co., Ltd., EA Pharma’s parent company Eisai Co., Ltd. and Mochida Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that the constipation treatment “MOVICOL” (Development code AJG555) was included in Japan’s National Health Insurance drug price list as of November 20, 2018, and EA Pharma and Mochida launched the product onto the Japan market today.

MOVICOL is the first polyethylene glycol preparation indicated for treatment of chronic constipation(1) in Japan, available for adults and children 2 years of age and older. MOVICOL increases the moisture in the intestinal tract by osmolality of its main ingredient polyethylene glycol (macrogol 4000), which increases fecal moisture, softens feces, increases fecal volume and physiologically activates the peristaltic movement of the colon to promote bowel movement. Furthermore, MOVICOL is a powdered medicine to be dissolved in water before administration, which enables suitable increase or decrease of the dose to obtain the preferred stool consistency.

Outside Japan, this product has been marketed mainly in Europe by Norgine B.V. under the brand name MOVICOL and is used by many patients with chronic constipation. In Japan, the Evaluation Committee on Unapproved or Off-Labeled Drugs with High Medical Needs(2)) of Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recognized the “high unmet medical needs” of polyethylene glycol preparations for chronic constipation, and Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (now EA Pharma) developed this product with Mochida for oral chronic constipation treatment in pediatric and adult patients in Japan under the license granted by Norgine to Ajinomoto Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (now EA Pharma).

In a placebo-controlled double-blind PIII clinical trial in adults conducted in Japan, the MOVICOL group demonstrated a statistically significant increase in spontaneous bowel movement frequency(3)) (the primary endpoint) compared to the placebo group. In the subsequent 52-week consecutive administration period, the spontaneous bowel movement frequency was steadily maintained in most cases. In a PIII clinical trial (a baseline-controlled open-label study) in pediatric patients, a statistically significant increase in spontaneous bowel movement frequency (the primary endpoint) was observed compared to baseline. The major adverse drug reactions in these trials were diarrhea and abdominal pain.

EA Pharma and Mochida have commenced distribution of the product under the same brand name in Japan. EA Pharma and Eisai jointly provide information for the proper use of MOVICOL under a co-promotion agreement.

The prevalence of constipation is high in young women and both elderly men and women, and the symptoms can become severe particularly in pediatric patients. The symptoms of constipation include reduced bowel movement, feeling of incomplete evacuation, and hard stools. When the symptoms become chronic, many patients suffer from a decline of QOL (Quality of Life). With the new treatment MOVICOL in addition to “GOOFICE 5 mg Tablet” (bile acid transporter inhibitor for chronic constipation treatment) launched in Japan in April 2018, EA Pharma, Eisai and Mochida are striving to increase treatment options for patients with chronic constipation and diverse disease histories as they seek to further contribute to addressing the needs of, and increasing the benefits provided to, patients, their families and healthcare providers.