Chugai assigns Vesanoid rights to Fuji Pharma in Japan

Japanese drugmaker Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519) has agreed to transfer the rights to Fuji Pharma (TYO: 4554) for the manufacture and market Vesanoid (tretinoin)10mg in Japan for the indication of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), effective on November 1, 2016.

Vesanoid is an orally available vitamin A derivative for the treatment of APL developed by Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX), which is the majority shareholder of Chugai. In Japan, Vesanoid was designated as orphan drug by the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare, in 1993 and has been on the market since March 1995.

In order to ensure the constant supply of Vesanoid, Chugai continues to distribute the product in the interim. Once all Chugai labeled products have been sold to the market, the distribution of Fuji Pharma labeled products will be implemented.