●SK chemicals Launched “REMITCH Capsule,” New Medicine for Intractable Pruritus, Effective Treatment for Haemodialysis Patient’s Itching.
- More than 35% of haemodialysis patients complain of pruritus… suffering without an effective prescription-based treatment
- Clinical trials in Japan indicated a 60% reduction of insomnia symptoms and a 44% increase in patient satisfaction.
A prescription-based medicine for intractable pruritus* (itching) among haemodialysis patients will be launched on the Korean market for the first time.
SK chemicals (President Park Man-hun) announced on September 19 the release of REMITCH® Capsule/Ingredient (Nalfurafine hydrochloride), a medicine for pruritus in haemodialysis patients, who had not experienced any positive results with existing medications.
Haemodialysis patients often have pruritus associated with kidney dysfunction, central sensory modulation disorder and dry skin. The intractable pruritus causes intolerable pain among the 70,000 haemodialysis patients in Korea. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service in 2013, there has been an increase in the number of haemodialysis patients every year and more than 35% of them have pruritus symptoms.
So far, there has been no prescription-based remedy for haemodialysis patients. Therefore, they have had no choice but to use humectants, antihistaminic agents**, steroid ointment***, etc.
REMITCH Capsule is Korea’s only intractable pruritus remedy for haemodialysis patients, who formerly had to manage their symptoms with ineffective treatments. Japan’s Toray**** has also been successful in developing this drug and released it to the Japanese market in 2009. It is known as the No.1 pruritus remedy with sales of 210 billion won last year.
The clinical results in Japan have been excellent. Administering the drug once a week for only two weeks demonstrated a favorable effect on symptoms of haemodialysis patients. When administered for 52 weeks, more than 50% of patients that received no relief from existing medical therapies experienced marked improvement in their condition with the drug in REMITCH Capsule.
Applying REMITCH capsules to patients who remained symptomatic with existing treatments, resulted in a more than 15% reduction in pruritus and pruritus-caused insomnia was alleviated in more than 60% of the patients. Satisfaction with treatment was increased from 49.1% to 70.6% among all haemodialysis patients suffering from pruritus.
SK chemicals President Park Man-hun said that, “Haemodialysis patients have been suffering from serious pain due to refractory diseases, adding that, “REMITCH Capsule offers patients a new and effective treatment modality in reducing pain and enhancing their quality of life.”
Unlike Japan, where it is designated as an orphan drug and is eligible for medical insurance coverage, REMITCH Capsule is being released in Korea as a non-paid item. Its prescription is available in clinics and hospitals around the country from this month.
[Photo]
REMITCH Capsule, Dramatic Treatment for Pruritus among Haemodialysis Patients
[Terminology]
☞ Pruritus
A feeling of itching, it is an unpleasant sense that causes people to uncontrollably scratch or rub their skin.
☞ Antihistaminic Agent
It alleviates the allergy, which is caused by excessive responses to protein by suppressing histamine receptors.
☞ Steroid External Application
This is an external application containing a steroid ingredient to be applied on skin diseases (atopy, contact dermatitis and eczema), and is effective in suppressing allergic inflammatory responses.
☞ Toray
It is a Japan-based multinational pharmaceutical, textile, and chemical company.