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Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has launched a new drug that provides a once-daily treatment for patients with the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB).
Fesoterodine, an antimuscarinic drug, works by relaxing the muscles in the wall of the bladder, decreasing sudden uncontrollable bladder contractions and increasing bladder capacity.
Overactive bladder occurs when the detrusor muscle that controls emptying of the bladder contracts involuntarily, creating a strong, sometimes uncontrollable urge to urinate. An estimated 4.9 million people in the UK have the condition, which has been shown to have a serious and detrimental effect on people’s emotional, psychological and sexual wellbeing.
In two international clinical trials, fesoterodine significantly improved the symptoms of OAB compared with placebo, and patients taking the 4mg or 8mg prolonged-release tablet also showed significant improvement in health-related quality of life.
At least three-quarters of patients said their condition improved or greatly improved on the medicine, compared with 53% on placebo.
In trials, initial treatment effect was seen as early as two weeks after the start of therapy with fesoterodine. The medicine was generally well tolerated, with dry mouth being the most commonly reported adverse event.
Copyright PA Business 2008
