Sobi grants Japanese rights on two drugs to Asahi Kasei

16 September 2022

Japanese medium-sized drugmaker Asahi Kasei Pharma yesterday revealed it has acquired the exclusive distribution rights in Japan for two products developed by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (STO: SOBI). Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The drugs are pegcetacoplan, a complement C3 inhibitor for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and avatrombopag, an agent for improving thrombocytopenia associated with chronic liver disease.

Pegcetacoplan is a PEGylated peptide inhibiting the function of complement protein C3, which triggers hemolysis (breaking down of red blood cells), and has been approved as a therapeutic drug for PNH in the USA and Europe. It is sold as Empaveli in the USA by Apellis Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: APLS) and as Aspaveli in Europe by Swedish Orphan Biovitrum (also known as Sobi). In Japan, an application has been filed for approval of its manufacture and sale.

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