Chugai in co-development accord for obinutuzumab with Nippon Shinyaku

28 November 2012

Japanese drugmaker Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519), which is majority-owned by Swiss drug major Roche (ROG: SIX) has entered into an agreement with Nippon Shinyaku (TYO: 4516) to co-develop and co-market GA101 (obinutuzumab), a potential challenger for Roche’s blockbuster drug Rituxan/MabThera (rituximab).

GA101 is the first glycoengineered, type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody which Chugai has licensed-in from GlycArt AG (a 100% subsidiary of Roche) and started the development for the expected indication of indolent and aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) since October 2008 in Japan. Chugai will receive an undisclosed upfront fee and milestone payments from Nippon Shinyaku. Through the joint effort to develop and market GA101, Chugai and Nippon Shinyaku hope to provide another effective treatment option for NHL to as many patients as possible.

Same action as rituximab

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