Eisai Co, a ¥650 billion Japanese pharma major, has received major setback during the nine months period ended December 2012 on account of stiff competition and National Health Insurance (NHI) drug price revisions in Japan. Its net profit declined by 31 per cent to ¥34.0 billion from ¥49.2 billion in the corresponding period of last year. Its net sales moved down by 14.5 per cent to ¥431.6 billion from ¥504.8 billion due to fall in sales of Aricept and Pariet.

The company's sales in East Asia declined by 13 per cent to ¥274.6 billion despite strong growth in China. Its sales in Japan declined by 15 per cent to ¥250 billion, but that in China improved by 22 per cent to ¥15.8 billion. Its net sales in US declined by 44.5 per cent to ¥18.9 billion mainly due to lower sales of Pariet and Aricept.

The sales of Aricept declined by 36.5 per cent to ¥60.6 billion, while sales of Pariet came down by 18.6 per cent to ¥40.6 billion. However, sales of Humira and Haleaven improved by 19.9 per cent and 126.5 per cent respectively to ¥21.6 billion and ¥4.1 billion. The company launched the insomnia treatment Lunesta in April 2012, the anti-rheumatic agent Careram in September 2012, and the anticancer agent Gliadel Implant in January 2013.

The company terminated the co-promotion of Aricept with Pfizer Japan Inc., and, as a result, assumed sole promotion on January 1, 2013. The company projected lower sales at ¥573 billion for the year 2012-13 in light of the most recent results in Japan and lower sales of Aricept and Halaven. Similarly, it has lowered its projection in respect of net profit to ¥47 billion as against previous projection of ¥59 billion.