Eisai builds Chinese GI portfolio with Almirall deal
This article was originally published in Scrip
Eisai has acquired rights to Almirall's gastroprokinetic agent cinitapride in China, in a deal which extends the Japanese firm's gastrointestinal (GI) portfolio in this fast-growing market.
Eisai has licensed exclusive development, manufacturing and marketing rights to the benzamide derivative, which Almirall sells in Spain (its home market) as Cidine. It is indicated there for mild to moderate dysmotility-type dyspepsia, and as an adjunctive therapy for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in patients responding inadequately to proton pump inhibitor treatment.
The molecule acts as both a 5HT1/5HT4 agonist and a 5HT2 antagonist, to improve GI motility and upper GI function.
Eisai licensed Chinese rights to Almirall's anti-allergic Kestine (ebastine) in 2001, and already markets its in-house protective anti-ulcer drug Selbex (teprenone) in China. It is looking to build up its Chinese business as part of a wider push into selected emerging markets.