Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (DSP) and Bristol-Myers K.K. (BMKK) have concluded an agreement on the marketing rights of anti-hypertension and hepatocellular cancer drug.

Under the agreement terms, BMKK will sublicense to DSP the development, manufacturing/marketing and marketing rights of irbesartan, an anti-hypertension drug.

Respectively, DSP will grant BMKK with co-marketing rights of SM-11355 (generic name: miriplatin hydrate), a therapeutic drug for hepatocellular carcinoma.

DSP expects the addition of irbesartan, which is currently under phase III trials in Japan, to further expand its line up of anti-hypertension drug.

SM-11355 is now under phase II development in Japan as hepatic arterial injection chemotherapy in treating hepatocellular carcinoma.

The agreement will enable both firms to co-market the drug, as soon as DSP obtains manufacturing and marketing approval.

By Aki Tsukioka, JCN Staff Writer

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