- For Print
- March 31, 2014
Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito, “Eisai”) announced today that its U.S. subsidiary Eisai Inc. has entered into an agreement to sell and assign its rights to develop and market the DNA methylation inhibitor DACOGEN® (decitabine) in all countries excluding Mexico to Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and Representative Director: Taro Iwamoto, “Otsuka”). In addition, Eisai Inc. has assigned the patent right for its metabolic enzyme inhibitor E7727 to Otsuka.
Under this agreement, Eisai Inc. will transfer to Otsuka its rights to exclusively develop and market DACOGEN in the United States, Canada and Japan, as well as the licensing rights for this product in all other countries excluding Mexico, in which Eisai Inc. will retain its rights for DACOGEN.
DACOGEN is a DNA methylation inhibitor that induces cell differentiation and is indicated for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The product was originally developed by Otsuka's U.S. subsidiary Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (formerly SuperGen, Inc.) and in 2008, Eisai Inc. obtained an exclusive license for its development, manufacture and marketing worldwide.
Eisai believes that this agreement, which gives the original developer, the Otsuka Group, the exclusive right to develop and commercialize DACOGEN, will lead to maximization of DACOGEN's product and patient value. Meanwhile, Eisai will be able to strategically reallocate resources to other mid-to-long-term business growth areas so as to continue to make further contributions to address the diversified needs of, and increase the benefits provided to, patients and their families.