Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda, a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer Japan Inc. have terminated an agreement on December 31, 2012 in which Takeda will cease distribution of 13 out of the 15 Pfizer products that it previously procured from Wyeth K K and currently distributes under an exclusive distribution agreement with Pfizer, and that Pfizer, the manufacturer of the products, will begin selling them thereafter.
In addition, Takeda will continue to distribute the pneumococcus vaccine Prevenar for infants and young children and hemophilia B drug BeneFIX (generic name: nonacog alfa) after January 2013.
Aside from this exclusive distribution agreement, the two companies agreed in February 2011 to extend the term of co-promotion agreement of the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Enbrel (generic name: etanercept), the marketing of which Takeda will continue.
Takeda and Pfizer will remain committed to the prevention and treatment of diseases by providing drugs that meet the needs of patients and medical professionals through their successful partnership.
The 13 products, the marketing of which by Takeda will terminate on December 31, 2012 and be commenced by Pfizer in January, 2013: Isovorin (active folate); Artane (treatment for parkinsonian syndrome); Amoxan (treatment for depression); Torisel (anticancer agent); Napageln (transdermal antiinflammatory drug); Photofrin (treatment for photodynamic therapy); Premarin (conjugated estrogens); Mylotarg (anticancer agent); Minomycin (antibiotic); Methotrexate (folate metabolism blocker); Rheumatrex (treatment for rheumatoid arthritis); Leucovorin (anti-folate metabolism blocker) and Wypax (minor tranquilizer).
The products which Takeda will continue to distribute after January, 2013: Prevenar (pneumococcus vaccine for infants and young children); BeneFIX (treatment for haemophilia B) and Enbrel (treatment for rheumatoid arthritis).