Balsalazide.
Balsalazide is a prodrug of mesalazine which has an inert carrier molecule instead of the sulfapyridine moiety of sulfasalazine. Balsalazide 6.75 g/day was more effective than mesalazine 2.4 g/day in at least 1 trial and as effective as sulfasalazine 3 g/day for inducing remission in patients with acute ulcerative colitis in 8- and 12-week trials. Moreover, complete symptom relief occurred more promptly with balsalizide 6.75 g/day than with mesalazine 2.4g/day. In long term studies, balsalazide 2 g/day was as effective as sulfasalazine 2 g/day and balsalazide 6 g/day was as effective as mesalazine 1.5 g/day, in maintaining remission in patients with ulcerative colitis. The tolerability profile of balsalazide is significantly better than that of sulfasalazine; 70% of sulfasalazine-intolerant patients were able to tolerate balsalazide.
Prakash
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Adis International Limited, Auckland, New Zealand.
Spencer
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CM
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000188:drug therapy; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D019804:Mesalamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010659:Phenylhydrazines
D000636:Aminosalicylic Acids; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D010659:Phenylhydrazines; D019804:Mesalamine; C038637:balsalazide