BRIEF—Astellas launches Dafclir against C-difficile in Japan

Astellas Pharma has launched Dafclir (fidaxomicin) for infectious enteritis, including with clostridium difficile (CD) in Japan, under the terms of a licencing agreement with Merck & Co.

The launch of the product, which has a novel mechanism of action, follows approval earlier this year from the Japanese regulator.

Astellas has also acquired an exclusive license for the development and commercialization in Europe, where it is already being marketed as a CD infection treatment.

New treatment options have been required for this indication, due to antimicrobial resistance. Dafclir has a narrow antibacterial spectrum, therefore the firm says it “minimally disrupts the balance of intestinal flora, and it inhibits spore formation.”