Pharmbio Korea said Thursday that it has launched Azabio (Ingredient: Azathioprine), a treatment for autoimmune diseases and kidney transplant patients.

Azabio

Azathioprine, the major component of Azabio, is an immunosuppressive agent used to treat leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis and other systemic inflammatory diseases. The drug has become a viable treatment option for inhibiting abnormal immune functions in patients with autoimmune diseases and preventing renal transplantation rejection.

For patients using Azathioprine, it is necessary to start with a low dose and gradually increase the dosage as the therapy can cause severe side effects such as leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. However, most conventional drugs provide a single dosage form of 50 milligrams,

As a result, the company released two dosage volumes – 25 and 50 milligrams – to help patients freely adjust drug intake. The drug also uses a film-coated PTP formulation to meet the characteristics of an immunosuppressant.

“The immunosuppressive drug market is expected to grow in tandem with the increasing incidence rate of autoimmune diseases, such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, that occur due to changes in modern lifestyles,” said Woo Dong-wan, managing director of Pharmbio Korea’s marketing department. “The company expects that Azabio will offer a new paradigm with its increased convenience compared to existing Azathioprine formulations.”

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