SGLT2 inhibitor tofogliflozin marketing changes hands in Japan

Japan’s Chugai Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4519) says that both brands of its selective inhibitor of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) tofogliflozin hydrate will now be distributed by privately-held Kowa Company.

Under license agreements in 2012, tofogliflozin has been marketed by Kowa under the brand name Deberza tablets 20mg and by French major Sanofi’s (Euronext: SAN) Japanese unit under the brand name as Apleway tablets 20mg following regulatory approvals in 2014 for the indication of type 2 diabetes mellitus, explained Chugai, which is majority-owned by Swiss giant Roche (ROG: SIX).

Chugai and Sanofi agreed to terminate their license agreement. Kowa and Sanofi agreed that the marketing right for Apleway will be transferred from Sanofi to Kowa as of April 1, 2020 and the marketing authorization for the product will be also transferred by around June 2020. With these changes to marketing arrangements, tofogliflozin will be marketed solely by Kowa.