Myclausen

Myclausen is a medicine that contains the active substance mycophenolate mofetil. It is available as white, round tablets (500 mg) and capsules (250 mg).

Myclausen is a ‘generic medicine’. This means that Myclausen is similar to a ‘reference medicine’ already authorised in the European Union (EU) called Cellcept.

Myclausen is used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted kidney, heart or liver. It is used with ciclosporin and corticosteroids (other medicines used to prevent organ rejection).

The medicine can only be obtained with a prescription.

Myclausen treatment should be initiated and maintained by a qualified transplant specialist.

The way that Myclausen should be given and the dose depend on the type of organ transplant.

For kidney transplants, the recommended dose in adults is 1 g twice a day by mouth starting within 72 hours after the transplant. In children aged between two and 18 years, the dose of Myclausen is calculated depending on height and weight.

For heart transplants, the recommended adult dose is 1.5 g twice a day, starting within five days following the transplant.

For liver transplants in adults, mycophenolate mofetil should be given as an infusion (drip into a vein) for the first four days after the transplant, before the patient is switched to Myclausen 1.5 g twice a day as soon as it can be tolerated. Myclausen is not recommended for use in children after heart or liver transplants because of a lack of information on its effects in this group.

The dose may need to be adjusted in patients with liver or kidney disease. For more information, see the summary of product characteristics (also part of the EPAR).

The active substance in Myclausen, mycophenolate mofetil, is an immunosuppressive medicine. In the body, it is converted into mycophenolic acid, which blocks an enzyme called ‘inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase’. This enzyme is important for the formation of DNA in cells, particularly in the lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell which is involved in the rejection of organ transplants). By preventing the production of new DNA, Myclausen reduces the rate at which the lymphocytes multiply. This makes them less effective at recognising and attacking the transplanted organ, lowering the risk of the organ being rejected.

Because Myclausen is a generic medicine, studies in patients have been limited to tests to determine that it is bioequivalent to the reference medicine, Cellcept. Two medicines are bioequivalent when they produce the same levels of the active substance in the body.

Because Myclausen is a generic medicine and is bioequivalent to the reference medicine, its benefit and risk are taken as being the same as those of the reference medicine.

The CHMP concluded that, in accordance with EU requirements, Myclausen has been shown to have comparable quality and to be bioequivalent to Cellcept. Therefore, the CHMP’s view was that, as for Cellcept, the benefit outweighs the identified risk. The Committee recommended that Myclausen be given marketing authorisation.

The European Commission granted a marketing authorisation valid throughout the EU for Myclausen on 7 October 2010.

For more information about treatment with Myclausen, read the package leaflet (also part of the EPAR) or contact your doctor or pharmacist.