In the treatment of severe Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dose of Aricept is increased to 10mg once daily, after four weeks and later at 5mg. Currently, Aricept is marketed in 3mg tablet or 5mg tablet formulations. With introduction of 10mg tablets, one tablet a day administration treatment becomes available for all stages of AD (mild, moderate and severe) which can be beneficial for the patients and their families, as well as their caregivers.
On August 23, 2007, Eisai obtained approval for additional efficacy and dosage for Aricept for the treatment of severe AD as well as for the marketing authorization for the new 10mg dose formulations in Japan. The new 10mg dose formulations were added to the National Health Insurance (NHI) drug price list as of December 21, 2007.
Aricept, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor developed by Eisai Co., is said to be the only approved prescription medicine for the treatment AD in Japan. It is believed to work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, thereby increasing available levels of this chemical in the brain.