Daiichi Sankyo pulls out of 'ActHIB' collaboration and VN-100 development

The partnership agreement for sales and information provision activities for the lyophilized hemophilus influenza vaccine type b “ActHIB” between Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) and French major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) will be terminated, the Japanese drugmaker announced today. Daiichi Sankyo’s shares closed trading today down 2.11% at 4,314 yen.

“ActHIB” was developed and manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur in France, and Sanofi has had manufacturing and sales approval in Japan since January 2007. Under the partnership agreement between Sanofi and Daiichi Sankyo, the latter has engaged in sales and information provision activities of “ActHIB” since December 2008. Based on the agreement, both companies have contributed to improve public health in Japan; however, due to the expiration of the distribution and co-promotion agreement of “ActHIB,” the companies have agreed to terminate the partnership as of the end of December 2018.

From January 1, 2019, Sanofi will solely engage in sales and information provision activities of “ActHIB.” Daiichi Sankyo will continue the distribution of “ActHIB” until the end of December, 2019, and Sanofi will take it over from January 1, 2020. Both companies will cooperate to smoothly complete the transition.