Maruho enters dermatology licensing deals with Astellas and Chugai

In what was a busy deal-making day for Maruho, the company yesterday announced licensing agreements with two fellow Japanese drugmakers, Astellas Pharma (TYO; 4503) and Chugai (TYO: 4519). Financial details of neither deal were announced.

Maruho entered into an exclusive license agreement with Astellas for a novel, Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor developed by Astellas (peficitinib: ASP015K) for the treatment in the skin disease area by topical formulation.

Under this accord, Astellas gives Maruho worldwide, exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize a topical formulation of peficitinib for treatment in the skin disease area. In return, Maruho will pay Astellas an undisclosed up-front payment at the time of the execution of the agreement and will also pay milestones on the achievement of certain development milestones. Astellas is further entitled to receive royalty payments on net sales of the product developed by Maruho. Maruho will conduct further development, production and commercialization alone and bear all costs associated.