Pfizer and Eisai continue Aricept collaboration; to co-promote Lyrica in Japan

Global drugs behemoth Pfizer says that its agreement with Japan's Eisai to provide Aricept (donepezil) to patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease will continue without interruption. Under this redefined alliance, which resolves a previously-disclosed dispute, Pfizer and Eisai will continue to co-promote Aricept in the USA, Japan and key markets in Europe, and the former will continue to have an exclusive license to sell the drug in the other countries where it has rights.

Eisai had previously claimed that it had a right to terminate the Aricept deal upon the closing of Pfizer's $68 billion acquisition of fellow US drug major Wyeth, which has in development an Alzheimer's vaccine, bapineuzumab, under a deal with Irleand's Elan.

Pfizer will maintain its rights in all countries where it currently commercializes Aricept until July 2022, with the exception of Japan, and will now return the rights in Japan to Eisai on December 31, 2012. In the first half of 2009, Aricept generated revenue of $203 million for Pfizer in direct sales under its deal with Eisai. The Japanese firm's sales of the drug reached $1.89 billion in 2008.

Pfizer and Eisai have also entered into a new agreement - effective immediately - to co-promote Lyrica (pregabalin) in Japan, where the anti-epileptic agent ' also indicated for neuropathic pain - is under regulatory review and, assuming approval is granted, this agreement will continue in force until July 2022. Pfizer's half year sales of the drug reached $1.36billion, a rise of 10% on the like, previous year's six months.

'Our continued partnership with Eisai is a testament to Pfizer's commitment to help patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease,' said Jeff Kindler, Pfizer's chief executive Officer. 'In addition, we look forward to forging a new alliance with Eisai to help treat neuropathic pain with our co-promotion of Lyrica in Japan following regulatory approval.'

Eisai says it expects this new collaboration with Pfizer to have a positive impact on its revenue and earnings after fiscal year 2010.