Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., one of Japan’s leading research-based pharmaceutical companies, and Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd. announced that they agreed to transfer the rights to manufacture and market Vesanoid (tretinoin) in Japan for the indication of acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL), from Chugai to Fuji Pharma effective on November 1, 2016.

Vesanoid is an orally available vitamin A derivative for the treatment of APL developed by Roche. In Japan, Vesanoid was designated as orphan drug by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare, in 1993 and has been on the market since March 1995.

In order to ensure the constant supply of Vesanoid, Chugai continues to distribute the product in the interim. Once all Chugai labelled products have been sold to the market, the distribution of Fuji Pharma labelled products will be implemented.

Chugai and Fuji Pharma will cooperate to accomplish a smooth transition of manufacturing and marketing of Vesanoid, together by delivering products and their information meeting medical needs, as well as promoting the appropriate use of Vesanoid.

In April 2016, the business transfer agreement for Vesanoid to manufacture and market in Japan was concluded among Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH, Roche and Chugai. Cheplapharm acquired the manufacturing and marketing rights of Vesanoid in Japan and licensed out those rights to Fuji Pharma.

Fuji Pharma is a pharmaceutical company focused on the development, manufacturing, and marketing of new drugs, generic drugs and biosimilars.