｜About Marketing ｜Exapanding Indications ｜Rescula References ｜
R-Tech Ueno's originally developed Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12% is a glaucoma/ocular hypertension treatment drug that was the first in the world to utilize Prostone. Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12% have pharmacological activities as the Prostone-type ion channel openers, giving it the ability to not only lower intraocular pressure, but also sustain optic nerve preservation (in vitro) and improve the ocular blood flow of those suffering normotensive glaucoma. Since it was first put on the market in 1994, over 500 thousand patients have used the drug across 45 different countries, making Rescula® a firm long-seller.
On top of manufacturing and supplying Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12% to Santen Pharmaceuticals with which R-Tech Ueno has the marketing license contracts, we conduct our own corporate MR promotion and marketing activities. By offering the latest information on Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12% from the point of view of the developer, R-Tech Ueno contributes to the evidence-based treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
R-Tech Ueno has been planning the marketing and promotion of Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12% with Santen Pharmaceutical Corporation. We also make aggressive efforts in disseminating information by our own Medical Representatives.
Taking advantages of being the discoverer and developer of Rescula® Eye Drops 0.12%, we communicate the latest scientific information on Rescula®, contributing to appropriate Glaucoma treatments that depend on new evidence.
We hold regular seminars for ophthalmologists and paramedical staff in cooperation with Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to provide more physicians with opportunities for introduction of cutting-edge medical information that directly helps your diagnosis/treatment of glaucoma.
We are active participants in the ophthalmic community (Japanese Ophthalmic Association, Japanese Clinical Ophthalmic Association, Japan Glaucoma Association, etc.); with whom we organize seminars based on the expertise of highly recognized doctors, and disseminate news of the latest professional observations in the medical field.
We advance basic research on the pharmacological mechanisms of Rescula®. All discoveries are then announced to the clinical field by way of presentations at medical meetings and academic papers.
Rescula® Eye Drops, which is a prostone developed for the first time in the world by Dr. Ryuji Ueno, is a drug transferred from Japan to the world for treating glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Although the business environment surrounding Rescula® Eye Drops is still severe, the clinical trial for expanding indications to include retinitis pigmentosa aims to complete data analysis of the study results by the end of this term. In the meantime, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., to which we transferred the right of distribution Rescula® Eye Drops in America and Canada, is planning to expand the indications to include atrophic age-related macular degeneration. At R-Tech Ueno, the Medical Affairs Team will cooperate and support this effort to expand the indication in US. We will continue to lay stress on the life cycle management of Rescula® Eye Drops. Since a doctor with good knowledge of medicine in the field is directing the effort from the top, effective strategies can be realized. On the basis of the excellent pharmacological action of Rescula, we shall face the challenge to brighten the future of patients around the world in areas where no effective treatment is available.
Prostone
Prostone is a group of functional fatty acids that was discovered in the early 1980s by R-Tech Ueno founder, Ryuji Ueno, MD. Ph.D., Ph.D. While as a drug it has positive local physiological effects, it is also a chemical compound whose various side effects originally exhibited in Prostaglandin have been isolated. Rescula® (Generic name: Isopropyl Unoprostone) Eye Drops 0.12% was approved in Japan in 1994 as the world's first "Prostone" medicine to treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension, and activates the ion (K+) channel. In January of 2006, Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Bethesda, MD) obtained approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the Chronic Idiopathic Constipation drug, AMITIZA® (Generic name: Lubiprostone). AMITIZA® is the second “Prostone” drug, and activates the ion (Cl-) channel.
Retinitis pigmentosa
Retinitis pigmentosa is a hereditary chorioretinal degenerative disease which presents progressive night blindness and narrowing of visual field as main symptoms, and may lead to loss of vision when the symptoms are severe. To date, no effective treatment for this disease has been established. It is the third cause of visual impairment (No. 1 in the age group under 60 years), and is an important cause of loss of vision.
About Sucampo Pharmaceuticals
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company based in Bethesda, Maryland, focuses on the development and commercialization of medicines based on prostones. The therapeutic potential of prostones, which are bio-lipids that occur naturally in the human body, was first identified by Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., Sucampo Pharmaceuticals' Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Ueno founded Sucampo Pharmaceuticals in 1996 with Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D., founding Chief Executive Officer and currently Advisor, International Business Development and a Director.
Sucampo markets Amitiza® (lubiprostone) 24 mcg in the U.S. for chronic idiopathic constipation in adults and Amitiza 8 mcg in the U.S. to treat irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in adult women. Sucampo also is developing the drug for additional gastrointestinal disorders with large potential markets. In addition, Sucampo has a robust pipeline of compounds with the potential to target underserved diseases, inclusive of age-related diseases, affecting millions of patients worldwide. Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has three wholly owned subsidiaries: Sucampo Pharma Europe, Ltd., located in the UK; Sucampo Pharma, Ltd., located in Japan; and, Sucampo Pharma Americas, Inc., located in Maryland. To learn more about Sucampo Pharmaceuticals and its products, visit http://www.sucampo.com
Age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a major cause of adventitious vision loss in Europe, America and Japan. In Japan, 1 out of about 100 persons above 50 years of age suffers age-related macular degeneration (Hisayama Study). In America, about 2 million people have severe visual impairment today, and the number is expected to reach 3 million by 2020. The atrophic type without neovascularity is common in Europe and America. The macular area becomes atrophied, thereby leading to severe decreases of vision. At present, oral supplements are prescribed, but effective therapeutic drugs have not been developed.
