Eisai teams up with Zeria on proton pump inhibitor license agreement

Japanese drug major Eisai (TYO: 4523) has collaborated with fellow Japanese company Zeria Pharmaceutical to conclude a license agreement for E3710, a proton pump inhibitor discovered and developed by Eisai.

Eisai will grant Zeria the exclusive rights to develop and co-promote and the non-exclusive right to manufacture E3710 in Japan. It will receive down-payments and royalties from Zeria, and once marketing authorization has been obtained, Eisai will pay Zeria a certain consideration. After launch, the two companies will work together on the marketing.

E3710 is a new proton pump inhibitor as a successor to Eisai’s Pariet, and compared to current models potentially provides a stronger and longer-lasting inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion. It could shorten the treatment period and meet the needs of patients who find existing proton pump inhibitors inadequate.