For Immediate Release
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo announce alliance for ALS treatment agent edaravone in Brazil
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President and CEO: Masayuki Mitsuka, hereafter; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma) and Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Sunao Manabe, hereafter; Daiichi Sankyo) announced today that they have concluded a licensing agreement covering commercialization rights in Brazil for an intravenous infusion formulation of edaravone, a treatment agent for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In addition, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma has granted Daiichi Sankyo rights of first negotiations for commercialization for this dosage form of the drug in countries in Central and South America other than Brazil as well as for other additional dosage forms of this drug in countries in Central and South America, including Brazil.
Under this agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will file a regulatory application in Brazil for edaravone through its local subsidiary, and will commercialize the product in Brazil upon the approval.
Edaravone is a free radical scavenger that was discovered by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma. It is thought that edaravone has the effect of scavenging free radicals, which increase in ALS, protecting motor neurons from oxidative stress, and delaying the decline in muscle strength and the progress of muscular atrophy.
In June 2015, edaravone was approved in Japan as a treatment agent for controlling the progress of functional damage in ALS. Edaravone has currently been approved in South Korea, the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, and China.
To maximize the value of edaravone, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is working to increase the countries where it is available and is advancing development of an oral preparation as a new administration route. This licensing agreement is expected to provide a foundation for the expansion of the countries where edaravone is available in Central and South America.
Daiichi Sankyo has its own sales and marketing organization in Brazil, and is strengthening its presence in Central and South America as one of initiatives to increase regional value in line with the market characteristics in each region. This partnership is expected to address local medical needs as well as to drive further business growth.
Through cooperation in Brazil, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma and Daiichi Sankyo will aim to provide edaravone to more ALS patients as soon as possible.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Media contacts: TEL:+81 6 6205 5119
Investor contacts: TEL:+81 6 6205 5110
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited
Corporate Communications Department
TEL:+81 3 6225 1126
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, which was founded in 1678, has its headquarters in Doshomachi, Osaka, which is the birthplace of Japan’s pharmaceutical industry. With business centered on ethical pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is a well-established company and has the longest history of any listed pharmaceutical company in Japan.* In accordance with the corporate philosophy of “contributing to the healthier lives of people around the world through the creation of pharmaceuticals,” the Company formulated the key concept of Open Up the Future under the Medium-Term Management Plan 16-20. Through the discovery of drugs that address unmet medical needs, centered on its priority disease areas — immuno-inflammation, diabetes and kidney, central nervous system, and vaccines — Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma will strive to contribute to the health of patients around the world. For more information, go to https://www.mt-pharma.co.jp/e/
* Research by TOKYO SHOKO RESEARCH, LTD.
About Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical therapies to improve standards of care and address diversified, unmet medical needs of people globally by leveraging our world-class science and technology. With more than 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 15,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to a strong portfolio of medicines for cardiovascular diseases, under the Group’s 2025 Vision to become a “Global Pharma Innovator with Competitive Advantage in Oncology,” Daiichi Sankyo is primarily focused on providing novel therapies in oncology, as well as other research areas centered around rare diseases and immune disorders. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com.