Chugai and Fuji Pharma enter agreement over cancer drug

Chugai Pharmaceutical and Fuji Pharma  have entered into an agreement to transfer the rights to the manufacture and marketing of cancer drug Vesanoid (tretinoin) in Japan.

The agreement, which will see the rights handed from Chugai to Fuji, will take effect from November 1, 2016.

Vesanoid is a treatment used with other medications to treat a certain type of cancer of the white blood cells,  acute promyelocytic leukemia, also known as APL.

To ensure there will be a constant supply of Vesanoid in the transition period, Chugai will continue to distribute the product until all of its labelled products have been sold to the market.

After this the distribution of Fuji-labelled products will be implemented.

Chugai said: “Chugai and Fuji Pharma will cooperate to accomplish a smooth transition of manufacturing and marketing of Vesanoid, together by delivering products and their information meeting medical needs, as well as promoting the appropriate use of Vesanoid.”