Revcovi, Japan's first Drug for ADA deficiency, approved

Teijin Pharma, the core company of the Teijin Group’s (TYO: 3401) healthcare business, announced today that it has acquired marketing approval for Revcovi(elapegademase [genetical recombination]) from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW). Teijin’s shares edged up more than 1% to 1,886 yen on the news

Teijin Pharma has exclusive development and marketing rights in Japan to Revcovi, which was developed by Leadiant Biosciences, a UK-based pharmaceuticals company. Revcovidesignated as an orphan drug by MHLW in March 2016.

Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, an ultra-rare disease caused by a lack of ADA activity due to gene mutations, leads to lymphocyte reduction and severe combined immunodeficiency. It is a designated intractable disease in Japan. The estimated annual incidence of ADA deficiency is between 1/200,000 and 1/1,000,000 live births (Gaspar 2009) Infants with ADA deficiency often die within one year of birth