Daiichi Sankyo links with Kaketsuken for Bimmugen sales

Japanese drug major Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) has signed a cooperative sales agreement with The Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (“Kaketsuken”) for its recombinant adsorbed hepatitis B vaccine (yeast-derived), Bimmugen.

Kaketsuken originally obtained approval for the vaccine in 1988 as a genetic recombinant drug manufactured using proprietary Japanese technology. The main aim of the vaccine is prophylaxis against hepatitis B, and to date the vaccine has been administered to over 4 million people in Japan.

This agreement grants Daiichi Sankyo the right to sell the vaccine in Japan, which it hopes will aid prevention of hepatitis B, as well as further raise the company’s presence in the Japanese vaccine market. Through the sale of vaccines to meet unmet medical needs, Daiichi Sankyo is continuing its efforts to contribute to public health and the diversification of preventative medicine in Japan.