| Daiichi Suntory Pharma Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: George Nakayama), one of the group companies of Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Fujisawa Healthcare, Inc. (Headquarters: Deerfield, Illinois; Chairman: Hideo Fukumoto), one of the group companies of Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. today announced that they have executed a license agreement for carperitide (genetic recombination; Japanese brand name: HANP Injection 1000), an agent for acute heart failure generated by Suntory Limited whose pharmaceutical business is currently transferred to Daiichi Suntory Pharma.
Fujisawa Healthcare has acquired exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and market this agent in North America and EU countries.
Carperitide (genetic recombination) is an alfa-human atrial natriuretic peptide, a kind of hormone regulating volume and circulation of the body fluid secreted from the heart. This substance was successfully cloned by Suntory Limited in 1984, and has been manufactured by Suntory Limited and Daiichi Suntory Pharma as an alfa-human atrial natriuretic peptide preparation using a genetic recombination technology since 1995. Daiichi Pharmaceutical markets HANP® Injection 1000 as the first choice agent for acute heart failure in Japan.
To develop this agent in North America and EU countries and maximize product potential, Daiichi Suntory Pharma was seeking a partner. Fujisawa Healthcare successfully developed and markets a pharmacologic stress imaging agent as well as an anti-arrhythmic agent in the U.S., and also actively pursues opportunities for product acquisitions in order to strengthen its product portfolio in the cardiovascular disease area. Matching of strategic plans of each company paved the way for this agreement.
Fujisawa Healthcare plans to start phase II clinical trials for this agent in the U.S. in 2003. |
