Eisai Co., Ltd. and Abbott Japan Co., Ltd. have signed a supplemental agreement for the joint development of the new indication, psoriasis, of the anti-rheumatic agent D2E7 (Generic Name: adalimumab, fully human anti-TNF- monoclonal antibody) in Japan. This agreement supplements the basic agreement signed in June 1999 for the joint development and marketing of D2E7 for rheumatoid arthritis indication in Japan.

As a result of the supplemental agreement, Eisai and Abbott Japan will jointly proceed with the clinical development in Japan for rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis indications for D2E7. After receiving marketing authorization approval, Eisai and Abbott Japan will commercialize D2E7 in Japan.

D2E7 is an antibody medication discovered and developed by Knoll AG, a company that Abbott acquired in 2001. In the U.S. and Europe, Abbott currently markets D2E7 under the brand name of HUMIRA as an anti-rheumatic agent. Abbott retains the sole right to develop D2E7 on its own for Crohn's disease and psoriasis indications in the US and Europe, the release said.