Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Eisai Co., Ltd. have agreed to transfer marketing rights of Inhibace (generic name: cilazapril) from Eisai to Chugai based on the termination of agreement on March 31, 2005. As a result, Chugai will become the sole marketer of Inhibace in Japan from April 1, 2005.
Inhibace is an antihypertensive agent synthesized by Roche, and categorized as an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor. It has a high affinity to ACE and shows ACE inhibitory action for a long time. These characteristics allow the compound to be a persistent ACE inhibitor that can be administered orally once daily and control blood pressure well.
Nippon Roche K.K. (currently Chugai Pharmaceutical) and Eisai started to market Inhibace under a single brand through two-channels in Japan from November 1990. The marketing was then integrated to Eisai from January 1995.