Actavis forms Japanese JV with ASKA

Icelandic generics firm Actavis has signed an agreement to form a joint venture with Japan's ASKA Pharmaceutical. ASKA will hold 55% of  the shares of the company, to be called Actavis ASKA (A&A), with Actavis  taking the remainder. Actavis chief executive Sigurdur Olafsson said his  firm was convinced that the move was the best way to enter the Japanese  market, where the government is making a determined effort to encourage  the use of copy drugs (Marketletters passim).