A comparison of brand-name and generic versions of the anticoagulant, nafamostat mesilate, for hemodialysis

Abstract

Nafamostat mesilate has been widely used as an anticoagulant in hemodialysis patients with hemorrhagic diathesis. We compared brand-name and generic versions of the anticoagulant, nafamostat mesilate, with regard to the quantity of precipitate and the effect as an anticoagulant in twelve patients. By the cross-over method, there was no significant difference in the effects as an anticoagulant between the two versions of the drug. However, the quantity of precipitate was larger for the generic version than for the brand-name drug. The difference in the quantity of precipitate might be due to differences in additives or the level of impurities. When introducing the generic medicines, it must be considered that these versions might not be completely identical to the brand-name drug.