Ajinomoto Obtains Ulcerative Colitis Drug From German Dr. Falk Pharma
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Ajinomoto obtains Japanese marketing rights for ulcerative colitis drug Salofalk (mesalamine) from German drug maker Dr. Falk Pharma GmbH. The payment is estimated to be around ¥10 billion ($99.8 million). Currently available in Europe, Salofalk treats colitis ulcerative colitis with once-daily dosing. Ajinomoto plans to test and find the most effective dose for Japanese patients and to commercialize the drug in three to five years. Ajinomoto plans to expand its pharmaceutical business by 20 percent in the next five years, which would mean it would be second only to its food business. Ulcerative colitis has no known cause and has been designated as an intractable disease by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. (Click here for more - Japanese language