A very large-scale American multicentric study directed by William J. Sandborn of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, USA compared the efficacy of once-daily dosing of mesalamine (Asacol 400 mg tablet) with twice-daily dosing for maintenance of remission in patients with UC. Patients suffering from mild-to-moderate UC (n=1,023) in remission received mesalamine treatment either once daily or twice daily. They were followed up and check-ups were performed at 6 months and 1 year. Once-daily dosing was as effective as twice-daily dosing. This study will thus simplify treatment of UC patients while maintaining its efficacy. It is a small step forward, but represents significant progress in the therapeutic comfort of patients suffering from UC.

Reference:

Sandborn WJ, Korzenik J, Lashner B, Leighton JA, Mahadevan U, Marion JF, Safdi M, Sninsky CA, Patel RM, Friedenberg KA, Dunnmon P, Ramsey D, Kane S. Once Daily Dosing of Delayed-Release Oral Mesalamine (400 mg Tablet) for Maintenance of Remission of Ulcerative Colitis: The QDIEM Trial. Gastroenterology. 2010 Jan 8. [Epub ahead of print]