Teijin to co-develop for novel botulinum toxin in Japan

Japanese drugmaker Teijin has signed an exclusive license and co-development agreement with Germany family-owned drugmaker Merz Pharma regarding Xeomin (incobotulinumtoxinA), the novel type A botulinum neurotoxin, covering all expected indications for ethical pharmaceutical use in Japan.

Xeominhas been approved since 2005 in Europe and launched in more than 50 countries worldwide, including the USA. Today, Xeomin is being prescribed in the European Union and USA to treat patients with upper limb spasticity, cervical dystonia and blepharospasm.

Financial terms of the collaboration are not disclosed.

Merz is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials with Xeominfor upper and lower limb spasticity, as the first expected indications in Japan. Merz will beresponsible for completing and funding these clinical trials already underway. Teijin Pharma, the core company of the Teijin Group’s healthcare business, will be solely responsible for executing and funding regulatory and commercialization activities for Xeominin any form of administration in all expected indications for therapeutic pharmaceutical use in Japan.

“Botulinum toxin” is administered by intramuscular injections and interferes with the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thereby causing a neuromuscular paralysis, which is manifested as persistent (but not permanent) muscle relaxation.