Eisai buys rights to Rohypnol in Japan from Chugai and Roche

16 January 2017

The Japanese drugmakers Eisai (TYO: 4523) and Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO:4519) have agreed to a deal under which Eisai will acquire the rights to manufacture flunitrazepam and to market the drug in Japan as Rohypnol.

Since 2002 Chugai has been majority owned by the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (ROG: SIX), which currently owns about 60% of the company. Chugai has first refusal rights to develop and sell Roche products in Japan.

Flunitrazepam was developed by Roche and has been marketed in Japan under the brand Silece by Eisai and Rohypnol by Chugai.

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