TOKYO, Mar 31, 2016 - (ACN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, CEO: Haruo Naito, "Eisai") announced today that it has entered into an agreement to transfer the exclusive worldwide development and marketing rights (excluding Japan and Asia) for its investigational anticancer agent E7777 to Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (Dr. Reddy's).
Under this agreement, Eisai will be responsible for development and marketing of E7777 in Japan and Asia, while Dr. Reddy's will be responsible for development and marketing of the agent in all other regions. Furthermore, Dr. Reddy's holds an option for the rights to develop and market the agent in India. Through this agreement, the two companies aim to accelerate development and maximize the value of E7777. From Dr. Reddy's, Eisai will receive milestone payments in line with obtaining marketing approval and the achievement of sales targets.
E7777 is a fusion protein that combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxin fragments that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. A Phase II clinical study of the agent inpatients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or peripheral T-cell lymphoma is currently underway in Japan. Preparations are simultaneously in progress for a Phase III clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the United States.
Eisai positions oncology as a key franchise area, and is committed to providing new treatment options for patients with cancer in order to further contribute to addressing unmet medical needs that exist in the treatment of cancer as well as increase the benefits provided to patients and their families.
1. About E7777
E7777 is a fusion protein that combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxin fragments that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. A Phase II clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) or peripheral T-cell lymphoma is currently underway in Japan. In addition, preparations are in progress for a Phase III clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the United States.
2. About Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd. (NYSE: RDY) is an integrated pharmaceutical company, committed to providing affordable and innovative medicines for healthier lives. Through its three businesses - Pharmaceutical Services & Active Ingredients, Global Generics and Proprietary Products - Dr. Reddy's offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations. Their major therapeutic areas of focus are gastro-intestinal, cardiovascular, diabetology, oncology, pain management and anti-infectives. Dr. Reddy's operates in markets across the globe. Their major markets include - USA, Russia & CIS, Venezuela and India. For more information, visit www.drreddys.com.
3. About Cutaneous T-cell Lymphoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a type of cutaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that comes in a variety of forms, and is the most common type of T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In CTCL, T-cells (a type of lymphocyte that plays a role in the immune system) become cancerous and develop into skin lesions, leading to a decrease in quality of life (QOL) of patients with this disease due to severe pain and pruritus. While CTCL is often regarded as a low-grade lymphoma, it is slowly progressive and can take anywhere from several years to upwards of ten to reach tumor stage. Once the disease reaches this stage, the cancer is highly malignant and has usually spread to the lymph nodes and internal organs, resulting in a poor prognosis, and therefore this is currently a disease with significant unmet medicalneed.
4. About Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and classified as intermediate-grade. Often discovered once the disease has progressed, symptoms include swelling and lumps in the lymph nodes, fever, night sweats and weight loss. Among PTCLs, while prognosis is good for ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma which tends to affect adults aged between 20 and 30, other disease types often affect people aged around 60, and with poor prognosis and situations where treatment is difficult, PTCL is a disease with significant unmet medical need.
About Eisai
Eisai Co., Ltd. (TSE:4523; ADR:ESALY) is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai focuses its efforts in three therapeutic areas: integrative neuroscience, including neurology and psychiatric medicines; integrative oncology, which encompasses oncotherapy and supportive-care treatments; and vascular/immunological reaction. Through a global network of research facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, Eisai actively participates in all aspects of the worldwide healthcare system. For more information about Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit www.eisai.com.
Source: Eisai
Contact:
Public Relations Department, Eisai Co., Ltd. +81-3-3817-5120
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