Takeda to cease distribution of Pfizer's Prevenar 13 and BeneFIX in Japan

Japan’s largest drugmaker Takeda Pharma (TYO: 4502) has concluded an agreement to cease distribution of the pneumococcus conjugate vaccine Prevenar 13(pneumococcal 13-valent conjugate vaccine) and hemophilia B drug BeneFIX (nonacog alfa) that it currently distributes in Japan under an exclusive distribution agreement with US pharma giant Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), and that Pfizer, the manufacturer of the products, will begin selling them as of January 1, 2017.

Presently, due to changes in the business environment surrounding the two companies, the agreement was reached as a result of consultation between them in order to maximize the product value of the products.

Aside from this exclusive distribution agreement, the two companies have concluded a co-promotion agreement for the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs Xeljanz (tofacitinib citrate) and Enbrel (etanercept), the co-promotion of which will be continued by both companies while the marketing will be continued by Takeda.