A roundup of developments and latest news from China (Eisai and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical), Israel (Teva) and the UK and Germany (AstraZeneca and Cheplapharm).

China

Eisai and Nichi-Iko Partner for Generic Pharma Business in China

Eisai, a Tokyo-headquartered pharmaceutical company, and Nichi-Iko Pharmaceutical, a Toyama, Japan-based generics pharmaceutical manufacturer, have entered into a collaboration agreement for generic pharmaceuticals in China.

Through the agreement, Eisai and Nichi-Iko aim to enhance their pharmaceutical business in China by introducing generic drugs for which Nichi-Iko maintains the marketing approval in Japan. Eisai’s subsidiary in China is to sell the products that the companies select after Nichi-Iko obtains the approval for import and sale in China. The companies will select the first two products in this fiscal year and subsequently prepare to launch one to two products every year for the continuous launch from fiscal year 2024.

In March 2018, Eisai and Nichi-Iko entered into a strategic alliance agreement for advancing their generic pharmaceutical business in Japan. Under the new agreement, Eisai is seeking to further strengthen its Chinese generic business, which it entered in 2015. Nichi-Iko aims to enter the Chinese market by leveraging Eisai’s business foundation in China.

Source: Eisai, Nichi-Iko

Israel

Teva Pharmaceuticals Appoints New Executive VP of Global Operations

Teva Pharmaceuticals has announced the retirement of Dr. Carlo de Notaristefani, head of Teva’s Global Operations, and the appointment of Eric Drapé as Executive Vice President, Global Operations, effective immediately with the company’s announcement on October 2, 2019. Mr. Drapé will be based out of Teva’s global headquarters in Israel.

Dr. de Notaristefani had been with Teva for more than seven years, leading Teva Global Operations. He joined Teva in 2014 and served in various senior management positions, including as Executive Vice President and Chief Quality Officer of the Teva Group (2015 to present), head of Teva’s Biologics Operations (2014-2017), and Senior Vice President, Technical Operations Steriles, Respiratory and Biologics (2014-2015).

Prior to joining Teva, Mr. Drapé served as Executive Vice President, Technical Operations of Ipsen Pharma and served in several leading positions at Novo Nordisk.

Source: Teva Pharmaceuticals

Germany and the UK

AstraZeneca Divests Rights for Losec to German Pharma Company Cheplapharm in $276-M Deal

AstraZeneca has agreed to sell its global commercial rights, excluding China, Japan, the US and Mexico, for Losec (omeprazole), a drug to treat gastrointestinal reflux conditions and ulcers, and associated brands to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel, a German pharmaceutical company.

The divestment includes medicines containing omeprazole marketed by AstraZeneca or its collaborators under the medicine names Acimax, Antra, Mepral, Mopral, Omepral and Zoltum.

Cheplapharm will pay AstraZeneca approximately $243 million on completion of the agreement, plus sales-contingent milestones of up to $33 million in 2021 and 2022. In 2018, Losec sales in the countries covered by this agreement were $98 million, the majority of which were in emerging markets. AztraZeneca says the agreement does not change the company’s financial guidance for 2019.

As there were no closing considerations to the transaction, the agreement became effective upon signing.

Source: AstraZeneca