Dainippon Sumitomo and Daiichi Sankyo cooperate on lurasidone in South America

Japanese drug majors Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma (TYO: 4506; DSP) and Daiichi Sankyo (TYO: 4568) have entered into a license agreement for the commercialization of lurasidone, an atypical antipsychotic agent discovered by DSP, in Brazil and Venezuela. In addition, DSP has granted Daiichi Sankyo the option right for the commercialization for lurasidone in Argentina and Colombia.

Under the terms of the accord, Daiichi Sankyo will file applications for marketing approval of lurasidone in the licensed countries through its local subsidiaries, and commercialize lurasidone after obtaining appropriate approval within those countries.

For DSP, lurasidone is a product with global strategic importance. In parallel to an early maximization of the ongoing sales of lurasidone in the USA and Canada, DSP seeks to expand its sales to Europe, Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Australia and South America, with a view to realizing the full potential of the lurasidone business.