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Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: Bajanne on August 28, 2010, 08:58:52 AM

Title: Medication Change
Post by: Bajanne on August 28, 2010, 08:58:52 AM

We have been informed that our medication Recormon (Epogen) has been changed.  the new medication is called Mircera (Methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta). According to the letter we were given
"This change has become necessary because the former one id difficult to source and is very expensive.  the new medication is very safe, cheaper, readily available and lasts longer in the body.  with Mircera you will need a once a month injection instead of three times per week as with Recormon."

I had to do a Google search.     Do any of you get this Mircera?   Is it okay?

Title: Re: Medication Change
Post by: greg10 on August 28, 2010, 11:19:23 AM

I am newbie so I don't know anything.  But according to this article :
"Mircera (PEG-EPO) belongs to a category of drugs called Continuous Erythropoeitin Receptor Activators or CERA because it continuously interacts with the EPO receptor producing longer lasting effects. Only 1-2 monthly injections of Mircera have similar results to three times weekly injections of Epogen.

Cyclist Riccardo Ricco of the Saunier Duval-Scott professional cycling team was the first athlete to test positive for the new performance enhancing drug Mircera. His 'A' sample tested positive for metabolites of Mircera on July 17, 2008 at the 2008 Tour de France. "

Has anyone check the health of Riccardo lately?  :)
He is apparently fine and has returned to competitive cycling.

Title: Re: Medication Change
Post by: BigSky on August 28, 2010, 11:50:35 AM

Mircera (made by Roche)   is not available in the US due to Roche violating  Amgen patents for their drugs Epogen/Aranesp.


From those violations it must be similar to Aranesp which is a longer lasting version of epo.

Title: Re: Medication Change
Post by: KICKSTART on August 28, 2010, 02:32:26 PM

Sorry ..we get Aranesp over here.

Title: Re: Medication Change
Post by: greg10 on August 28, 2010, 02:41:45 PM

Bajanne, if you don't mind and if you are able to answer, which country are you located and how much is a treatment of Mircera?  Thanks. [edited - stupid me, I just saw your location under your profile]
"The outcome of an ongoing patent case will determine when patients can gain access to Mircera in the United States. Following approval by the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA), Mircera has already been launched in Austria, Sweden, Germany, the UK and Norway and will continue its international roll-out.
Read more: http://www.drugs.com/newdrugs/fda-approves-mircera-first-renal-anemia-us-monthly-maintenance-dosing-710.html#ixzz0xwEGQ7Bq

Court blocks Roche’s sales of Mircera in USA until 2014, as Amgen prevails in EPO patent dispute"