A multicenter experience with generic mycophenolate mofetil conversion in stable liver transplant recipients.
OBJECTIVE
Generic substitution of brand-name medications can lead to significant cost savings and is an accepted medical practice. This study evaluated clinical and safety outcomes among liver transplant recipients whose mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was converted from the brand-name formulation (Cellcept) to a generic formulation (My-rept).


METHODS
Clinical data from multiple centers were prospectively collected for determination of complications, safety, and quality of life after in 154 clinically stable, adult liver transplant recipients whose MMF was converted to a generic formulation between April 2010 and September 2012. This protocol was approved by Institutional Review Boards of all involved sites.


RESULTS
In eight patients (5.19%), nine instances of drug-related complications occurred after medication conversion. Half of these complications were gastrointestinal disorders (n = 4), and most (7 of 9) were mild. No significant differences were noted in mean pre- and postconversion gastrointestinal symptoms via a rating system (8.9 vs. 10.4) or gastrointestinal quality-of-life index scores (125.6 vs. 123.1). More than 90% of patients reported a status of "about the same" when questioned about the brand-name and generic formulation using the Patient Overall Treatment Effect and Investigator Overall Treatment Effect measures. The incidence of serious adverse events was 5.8%. Acute rejection occurred in two patients, with no graft loss or death.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical experience as well as research data showed that generic MMF was comparable in efficacy to the brand-name drug. Given the lack of adverse events and the safety findings, conversion from brand-name MMF to generic MMF should be encouraged.
Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jong Man
JM
Kim
Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Choon Hyuck David
CH
Kwon
Department of Surgery, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Ik Jin
IJ
Yun
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kwang-Woong
KW
Lee
Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
Hee Chul
HC
Yu
Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung-Suk
KS
Suh
Department of Surgery, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jae-Won
JW
Joh
Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
Baik Hwan
BH
Cho
Drug-related side effects and adverse reactions; Generic drugs; Mycophenolate mofetil; Quality of life; Transplantation liver