Pfizer Japan Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced an agreement to extend the period for co-promotion in Japan for the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drug Enbrel (etanercept). The companies also signed a new co-promotion agreement in Japan for the investigational drug tofacitinib (development code: CP-690,550), formerly known as tasocitinib, which is being studied for multiple inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis.

The co-promotion agreement between Takeda and Pfizer for Tofacitinib is for RA and certain other potential indications in Japan. Pfizer will receive a milestone payment from Takeda at the launch of Tofacitinib and Takeda will receive a percentage of sales (based on certain conditions specified in the contract) as a co-promotion fee from Pfizer. Contractual details are not disclosed.

“We are looking forward to the next phase of our successful partnership with Takeda,” said Michael Goettler, regional president of Asia-Pacific and Japan Head, Specialty Care Business Unit, Pfizer. “We are proud of our current inflammation product portfolio, and excited about the prospect of bringing new innovative treatments to our patients.”

Enbrel binds with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha - a cytokine), inhibiting its activity, and with lymphotoxin alpha (another cytokine), and reduces RA inflammation. The drug is currently approved in over 80 countries worldwide and is used by over 600,000 patients, including patients using the drug for indications other than RA.

Tofacitinib is a novel, oral Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitor that is being investigated as a targeted immuno-modulator in RA, psoriasis and other indications. Unlike current therapies for RA, tofacitinib takes a novel approach, targeting the intracellular signalling pathways that operate as hubs in the inflammatory cytokine network. Currently, in Japan, Pfizer is carrying out phase III clinical trials of the investigational drug for RA and, in other countries; the company is also studying tofacitinib in psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

“With these new contracts, we will be able to further strengthen our initiatives in the rheumatoid arthritis field,” said Yasuhiko Yamanaka, a member of the board, senior vice president, Pharmaceutical Marketing Division of Takeda. “Takeda and Pfizer together provide Enbrel to patients suffering from RA, and if the development program is successful, we look forward to offering a new treatment option. We are committed to further contribution to treatments for RA therapy.”

A generic name for proteins which are released from cells and mediate cell-cell interactions. They play a key role in immunity, inflammation and biological defence. Tyrosine kinase is related to autoimmune diseases, such as RA, and plays a key role in signalling related to cell growth and differentiation (tyrosine kinase: an enzyme which adds phosphoric acid to tyrosine, one of amino acids that make up proteins).

Pfizer Japan Inc. has been working for a healthier world by providing pharmaceutical and animal health products since our establishment in 1953. We provide drugs that cover a wide range of disease categories, including cardiovascular, inflammation, central nervous system, infectious disease, urology, ophthalmology, oncology, endocrinology and vaccine etc.

Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to strive towards better health for patients worldwide through leading innovation in medicine.