Astellas Pharma US Inc.


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Astellas Pharma US Inc. announced the commercial availability of Lexiscan(TM) injection, an A2A adenosine receptor agonist, for use as a pharmacologic stress agent in radionuclide MPI--a test that detects and characterizes coronary artery disease--in patients unable to undergo adequate exercise stress. Lexiscan, co-developed with CV Therapeutics is the first A2A adenosine receptor agonist shown to be safe and effective as a pharmacologic stress agent in MPI studies. The A2A adenosine receptor subtype is primarily responsible for coronary vasodilatation. In two identically designed Phase III clinical trials, Lexiscan met primary endpoints for scan agreement rates by showing with 95% confidence that MPI studies conducted with Lexiscan were similar to MPI studies conducted with Adenoscan(R) (adenosine injection). Lexiscan was generally well-tolerated in both Phase III studies. The most common adverse events reported in patients who received Lexiscan were shortness of breath, headache, flushing, chest discomfort, angina or ST-segment depression, dizziness and nausea.