Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co Ltd and Eisai Co. Ltd. signed an exclusive licensing agreement for AS-3201 (ranirestat), an investigational drug for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy that was discovered and is being developed by Dainippon Pharmaceutical.

Under the agreement, Eisai will assume the exclusive rights to further develop, manufacture and market this compound worldwide outside Japan, while Dainippon Pharmaceutical will retain the rights to Japan and to co-promote the compound with Eisai in major countries, maintains a company release.

AS-3201 is designed to improve the symptoms of diabetic neuropathy, a common complication of diabetes, by suppressing the accumulation of sorbitol within cells through strongly inhibiting aldose reductase.

Dainippon Pharmaceutical has been developing AS-3201 on its own as a global strategic product, aiming at an early application for approval. The company is currently conducting Phase III clinical trials in the United States and Canada, and Phase II trials in Japan with Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Diabetic neuropathy is one of three major diabetic complications along with retinopathy and nephropathy. Symptoms of diabetic neuropathy include numbness and pain in the hands, arms, feet and legs, and dizziness and faintness due to postural hypotension.