Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated announced that its partner Pfizer, Inc launched Viviant (Bazedoxifene) in Japan for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. Under the brand name Conbriza, the drug is also marketed in Spain through a co-promotion with Almirall, an international pharmaceutical company based in Spain. Pfizer received manufacturing and marketing approval for the product in Japan in July 2010. Viviant was approved in April 2009 by the European Commission (under the trade name Conbriza) for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis in women at increased risk of fracture.

Viviant, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), is a result of the successful research collaboration between Wyeth (now Pfizer) and Ligand that began in 1994. Pfizer is responsible for the registration and worldwide marketing of bazedoxifene, a synthetic drug specifically designed to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures while also protecting uterine tissue. Ligand is entitled to receive tiered royalties on net sales of bazedoxifene.

"We are excited to see the progress of Viviant as it provides a new osteoporosis treatment option to postmenopausal women. This is now the third product that Ligand will earn royalties from out of a large portfolio of partnered, royalty bearing programmes," said John L Higgins, president and chief executive officer of Ligand Pharmaceuticals. "Viviant's commercial introduction in Japan and Spain reflects the quality of Ligand's collaborations and the expertise of its partners in business, product development and international regulatory affairs."

Ligand discovers and develops novel drugs that address critical unmet medical needs of patients for a broad spectrum of diseases including hepatitis, muscle wasting, Alzheimer's disease, dyslipidemia, diabetes, anaemia, COPD, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis.