Tokyo, Apr 8, 2008 (Jiji Press) - Ajinomoto Co. <2802> said Tuesday it has agreed to obtain exclusive rights to develop and market a drug in Japan to treat chronic colon ulcer from German drug maker Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH.
Ajinomoto aims to start selling the drug in Japan in three to five yeas, after confirming the effectiveness of the drug for Japanese patients.
The disease, known as ulcerative colitis, is an inflammatory bowel disease that requires lifelong therapy. The number of patients suffering from the disease, which causes diarrhea and bleeding from the intestines, is currently estimated at 100,000 in Japan. The number is said to be increasing 5,000 annually.
The drug, 5-aminosalicylic acid, marketed as Salofalk and Granu-Stix by Dr. Falk Pharma in Europe, comes in a form of granulated powder, and only needs to be taken once a day, according to Ajinomoto. Other types of ulcerative colitis drugs usually come in the form of a tablet, and need to be taken three times a day.
Japan's market for ulcerative colitis drug is estimated at 17 billion yen.
Ajinomoto, a diversifying Japanese seasoning and food maker, reported sales of 83 billion yen from its pharmaceutical division in the year that ended in March last year. The company aims to raise the number to 100 billion yen in the near future.
Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who abruptly resigned in September 2007 citing health concerns, has later confessed that he had come down with the disease while in office.
Copyright © 2010 JCN. All rights reserved. A division of Japan Corporate News Network KK.
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