Astellas Pharma US, Inc announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new premixed formulation of Vaprisol (conivaptan hydrochloride injection) premixed in 5 per cent Dextrose.

Discovered and developed by Astellas, Vaprisol, an arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptor antagonist, is the first and only approved drug indicated for the treatment of both euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia in hospitalized patients. Hyponatremia is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s blood sodium level falls significantly below normal. Vaprisol was originally approved by the FDA in an ampule formulation for the treatment of euvolemic hyponatremia in December 2005 and hypervolemic hyponatremia in February 2007.

The 100mL, single-use premixed formulation of Vaprisol comes in an Intravia container, a product of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, containing 20 mg of conivaptan hydrochloride in 5 per cent Dextrose solution.
Lactic acid, USP is added for pH adjustment to pH 3.4 to 3.8. The new formulation will make preparation easier for health care providers as it is requires no measuring or mixing. Additionally, it has an expiration date of 24 months, six months longer than the original ampule formulation.

“Vaprisol premixed in 5 per cent Dextrose will be helpful in quickly preparing treatment for hyponatremia patients,” said Dr Joseph Verbalis, Professor of Medicine and Physiology at Georgetown University. “This
ready-to-use product will be useful for hospitals and emergency rooms.”

Hyponatremia is present in approximately 28 per cent of patients upon admission into acute hospital care and another 14 per cent acquire the condition while in acute care. Severe cases are medical emergencies that can result in swelling of the brain, respiratory arrest, catastrophic brain damage and death.


In the treatment of hyponatremia associated with congestive heart failure, Vaprisol is indicated only for those patients for whom the expected benefit of raising serum sodium outweighs the increased risk of adverse events. Vaprisol is contraindicated in patients with hypovolemic hyponatremia.

Hyponatremia, a condition of low serum sodium concentration, often results from elevated levels of the hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP), which regulates water and salt balance in the body.

Discovered and developed by Astellas Pharma Inc headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Vaprisol is a drug that blocks the activity of AVP, resulting in increased urine output without loss of valuable electrolytes such as
sodium and potassium.

Astellas Pharma US, Inc., located in Deerfield, Illinois, is a US affiliate of Tokyo-based Astellas Pharma Inc, Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products.