Teysuno™
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and Nordic Group BV Enter into a Development and Commercialization Agreement for the recently EMA approved Anti-Cancer Drug TeysunoTM covering the EU and other Selected European Countries.
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head office : Tokyo, Japan ; President : Toru Usami) and Nordic Group BV (Head office : Hoofddorp, the Netherlands ; CEO and Managing Director : Drs. Hans Schram) have entered into an agreement to support the ongoing development and commercialization of TeysunoTM in the EU and other selected European countries. TeysunoTM, a novel oral anti-cancer agent, recently received Marketing Authorization from the EMA for the treatment of adults with advanced gastric cancer when given in combination with cisplatin (March 14, 2011), which will form the basis of its commercial entry into this region.
Under this agreement Nordic will acquire an exclusive right to commercialize TeysunoTM in their territory and will become the Marketing Authorization Holder.
Nordic will combine its strong track record of success for entering new specialty pharmaceutical markets with its commitment to immediately develop a leading oncology business unit in Europe to ensure doctors and patients throughout the region will soon benefit from their access to TeysunoTM, an important new addition to the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.
The agreement has been structured to encourage and support a strong collaborative environment between the companies from which Taiho’s extensive experience with Teysuno in Japan and other countries in Asia will be immediately and seamlessly available to the partnership. About Teysuno
Teysuno™ was authorised for the treatment of gastric cancer in Japan in 1999. Teysuno™ is also authorized for patients with gastric cancer in South Korea, China, Singapore and Taiwan. To date, Teysuno™ has been used by more than 870,000 patients in Japan and Asia.
A member of the fluoropyrimidine class of anticancer agents, Teysuno™ is a combination of three pharmacological compounds. The main active substance in Teysuno, tegafur, is a prodrug of a chemical called 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), meaning that it is converted in the body to 5-FU. In the body, 5-FU interferes with the enzymes involved in making DNA. As a result, it can prevent the growth of cancer cells or result in cell death. The two other active substances in Teysuno™ allow tegafur to be effective at lower doses and with fewer side effects. Specifically, gimeracil prevents the breakdown of 5-FU and oteracil reduces the activity of 5-FU in normal, non-cancerous tissue in the gut.
About Taiho Pharmaceutical
Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., is an R&D-driven specialty pharma focusing on the three fields of oncology, allergies and immunology, and urology. Its corporate philosophy takes the form of a pledge : “We strive to improve human health and contribute to the enrichment of society.” In the field of oncology in particular, Taiho Pharmaceutical is known as a leading company in Japan and around the world for developing evidence-based medicines for the treatment of cancer. In areas other than oncology, as well, the company creates quality products that effectively treat medical conditions and can help improve people’s quality of life. Always putting customers first, Taiho Pharmaceutical also aims to offer over-the-counter medicinal products that support people’s efforts to lead fulfilling and rewarding lives. For more information about Taiho Pharmaceutical, please visit www.taiho.co.jp/english/
About Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
The Otsuka Group is a diversified healthcare group operating globally under the corporate philosophy ‘‘Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide’’. The Otsuka Group has business operations in 23 countries and regions around the world, and its consolidated sales for fiscal 2010 is ¥1,090.2 billion. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.otsuka.com/en/.