Extended-release tablet helps treat kidney stones

THE RECENTLY HELD Tascit Sci-Tech Summit titled “Cutting Edge” presented advanced technology in kidney stone management and the research and development behind potassium citrate (Tascit), a product of Biomedis Inc., a division of Unilab.

Among the speakers were Dr. Kennie Dee, Unilab senior vice president for R&D and holder of a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University; and Dr. Dennis Serrano, an active consultant in urology and kidney transplantation at St. Luke’s Medical Center Global, National Kidney Institute, and AsianHospital.

Dr. Serrano discussed the history, statistics and technology involved in kidney stones management. He estimated that 10 percent of all people will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives, with peak incidence rising between the ages of 20 to 40.

“Beating stone disease is a challenge, but we can measure up through dietary manipulation, lifestyle changes, paying attention to adequate hydration day in and day out, and recognition of the importance of inhibitory substances in the prevention of stone formation,” said Dr. Serrano.

He stressed that the use of potassium citrate can stop the growth of calcium phosphate crystals, as well as treat uric acid stones that may occur with or without calcium stones.

“The use of potassium citrate in preventing stone recurrence is not new to us. But these are formulations that are both cumbersome, fraught with compliance issues and with adverse events specifically gastrointestinal side effects and erratic serum levels,” Dr. Serrano said.

What is needed, he added, is a formulation that is stable enough for constant controlled release and friendly to the gastrointestinal tract. And this, Dr. Dee said, is why Biomedis came up with potassium citrate wax matrix extended-release potassium citrate tablets.

Biomedis’ Tascit (potassium citrate ER) is classified by the US Food and Drug Administration as “Generally Regarded as Safe,” which means that potassium citrate can do no harm to humans if used in reasonable amounts.