Pharmacia Corporation and Takeda Chemical Industries Ltd announced a new marketing agreement in Japan regarding Pharmacia's over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products.

Under the new agreement, Takeda has exclusive distribution rights in Japan for the Nicorette brand and will handle pharmacy promotion, wholesaler promotion, distribution and material management upon approval of Nicorette for OTC use in Japan. Pharmacia K.K., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pharmacia Corporation, will manufacture Nicorette and market the brand in Japan.

Nicorette is the world's leading NRT brand and is one of the top five global OTC brands. No NRT products are currently approved for OTC use in Japan.

Since the introduction of Nicorette gum in Sweden in 1978, Pharmacia has been marketing a variety of NRT products, including gum, patch, inhaler and nasal spray in more than 60 countries. In 2000, Nicorette generated global retail sales of over US$600 million.