birou notarial
* To co-promote Amgen's denosumab for cancer with Daiichi
* AstraZeneca seeking to build presence in Japan
* Global denosumab sales seen $3.3 bln by 2015 - consensus
(Adds background on drug, AstraZeneca in Japan)
By Ben Hirschler
LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is to co-promote Amgen's (AMGN.O) promising new drug denosumab in Japan as a treatment for bone cancer disorders alongside Daiichi Sankyo (4568.T), boosting its presence in the country.
Japan is a growing focus for Western drugmakers, who see good prospects in the country as more medicines originally developed for U.S. and European markets are introduced.
Daiichi acquired rights to denosumab from Amgen in 2007 and filed an application for marketing authorisation last year. The injectable drug is currently awaiting approval from Japanese authorities.
Financial terms of the agreement between AstraZeneca and Daiichi, announced on Tuesday, were not disclosed.
Denosumab is the first in a new class of medicines that work by blocking a protein that activates bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts. It is viewed as a critical growth driver for U.S. biotech company Amgen.
Analysts, on average, have forecast annual denosumab sales of $3.3 billion by 2015, according to Thomson Reuters Pharma.
In order to maximise sales, Amgen has decided to strike regional development and marketing deals with other big drug companies. In addition to the tie-up with Daiichi, Amgen also has a deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) covering Europe and several big emerging markets.
Denosumab is currently approved in the United States and Europe, under the trade name Xgeva, as a treatment for reducing fractures and other bone problems in certain cancer patients. It is also sold under the brand name Prolia for osteoporosis.
Tony Zook, the head of AstraZeneca's global commercial organisation, said the co-promotion deal with Daiichi would leverage the Anglo-Swedish company's strong position in cancer.
The deal does not include the osteoporosis indication, for which Daiichi also has marketing rights in Japan.
Japan is AstraZeneca's second largest market globally and a growing focus for the drugmaker, which generated revenue of $2.6 billion in the country last year, up 4 percent on 2009.
AstraZeneca already sells cholesterol fighter Crestor, Losec for stomach acid, asthma drug Symbicort and several cancer treatments in Japan. It expects to launch Nexium, the follow-on to Losec, within the next 12 months.
Birou Notarial Bucuresti
Baloane
* To co-promote Amgen's denosumab for cancer with Daiichi
* AstraZeneca seeking to build presence in Japan
* Global denosumab sales seen $3.3 bln by 2015 - consensus
(Adds background on drug, AstraZeneca in Japan)
By Ben Hirschler
LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is to co-promote Amgen's (AMGN.O) promising new drug denosumab in Japan as a treatment for bone cancer disorders alongside Daiichi Sankyo (4568.T), boosting its presence in the country.
Japan is a growing focus for Western drugmakers, who see good prospects in the country as more medicines originally developed for U.S. and European markets are introduced.
Daiichi acquired rights to denosumab from Amgen in 2007 and filed an application for marketing authorisation last year. The injectable drug is currently awaiting approval from Japanese authorities.
Financial terms of the agreement between AstraZeneca and Daiichi, announced on Tuesday, were not disclosed.
Denosumab is the first in a new class of medicines that work by blocking a protein that activates bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts. It is viewed as a critical growth driver for U.S. biotech company Amgen.
Analysts, on average, have forecast annual denosumab sales of $3.3 billion by 2015, according to Thomson Reuters Pharma.
In order to maximise sales, Amgen has decided to strike regional development and marketing deals with other big drug companies. In addition to the tie-up with Daiichi, Amgen also has a deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) covering Europe and several big emerging markets.
Denosumab is currently approved in the United States and Europe, under the trade name Xgeva, as a treatment for reducing fractures and other bone problems in certain cancer patients. It is also sold under the brand name Prolia for osteoporosis.
Tony Zook, the head of AstraZeneca's global commercial organisation, said the co-promotion deal with Daiichi would leverage the Anglo-Swedish company's strong position in cancer.
The deal does not include the osteoporosis indication, for which Daiichi also has marketing rights in Japan.
Japan is AstraZeneca's second largest market globally and a growing focus for the drugmaker, which generated revenue of $2.6 billion in the country last year, up 4 percent on 2009.
AstraZeneca already sells cholesterol fighter Crestor, Losec for stomach acid, asthma drug Symbicort and several cancer treatments in Japan. It expects to launch Nexium, the follow-on to Losec, within the next 12 months.
Baloane
Cost aparat dentar
* To co-promote Amgen's denosumab for cancer with Daiichi
* AstraZeneca seeking to build presence in Japan
* Global denosumab sales seen $3.3 bln by 2015 - consensus
(Adds background on drug, AstraZeneca in Japan)
By Ben Hirschler
LONDON, May 24 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca (AZN.L) is to co-promote Amgen's (AMGN.O) promising new drug denosumab in Japan as a treatment for bone cancer disorders alongside Daiichi Sankyo (4568.T), boosting its presence in the country.
Japan is a growing focus for Western drugmakers, who see good prospects in the country as more medicines originally developed for U.S. and European markets are introduced.
Daiichi acquired rights to denosumab from Amgen in 2007 and filed an application for marketing authorisation last year. The injectable drug is currently awaiting approval from Japanese authorities.
Financial terms of the agreement between AstraZeneca and Daiichi, announced on Tuesday, were not disclosed.
Denosumab is the first in a new class of medicines that work by blocking a protein that activates bone-destroying cells called osteoclasts. It is viewed as a critical growth driver for U.S. biotech company Amgen.
Analysts, on average, have forecast annual denosumab sales of $3.3 billion by 2015, according to Thomson Reuters Pharma.
In order to maximise sales, Amgen has decided to strike regional development and marketing deals with other big drug companies. In addition to the tie-up with Daiichi, Amgen also has a deal with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L) covering Europe and several big emerging markets.
Denosumab is currently approved in the United States and Europe, under the trade name Xgeva, as a treatment for reducing fractures and other bone problems in certain cancer patients. It is also sold under the brand name Prolia for osteoporosis.
Tony Zook, the head of AstraZeneca's global commercial organisation, said the co-promotion deal with Daiichi would leverage the Anglo-Swedish company's strong position in cancer.
The deal does not include the osteoporosis indication, for which Daiichi also has marketing rights in Japan.
Japan is AstraZeneca's second largest market globally and a growing focus for the drugmaker, which generated revenue of $2.6 billion in the country last year, up 4 percent on 2009.
AstraZeneca already sells cholesterol fighter Crestor, Losec for stomach acid, asthma drug Symbicort and several cancer treatments in Japan. It expects to launch Nexium, the follow-on to Losec, within the next 12 months.
Cost aparat dentar
