BMS transfers Japan pemirolast rights
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
Bristol-Myers Squibbhas agreed to divest Japanese manufacturing and marketing rights to the anti-allergic Pemilaston (pemirolast) to the domestic firm Alfresa Pharma. The two companies will begin joint promotional activities this month and the full transfer is due for completion next March. The change reflects a shift by BMS to other areas such as oncology, HIV and rheumatoid arthritis and an effort by Alfresa Pharma (part of the Alfresa pharmaceutical wholesaling group) to expand its existing allergy portfolio, the firms explained. Pemilaston is marketed in Japan in several adult and paediatric oral formulations and in ophthalmic form, for bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis.