GSK goes it alone for Adoair in Japan
This article was originally published in Scrip
GlaxoSmithKline and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (MTP) have agreed to end a Japanese tie-up for the co-promotion of Adoair (salmeterol xinafoate plus fluticasone propionate) at the end of this month.
The two companies have been jointly promoting the inhaled long-acting beta-adrenoceptor agonist and corticosteroid combined product since April 2009, for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and adult and paediatric asthma. GSK will take over all promotional activities from 1 August.
Adoair, sold elsewhere mainly as Advair and Seretide, is marketed in Diskus formulations containing 50mcg of salmeterol plus either 100mcg, 250mcg or 500mcg of fluticasone.
The companies gave no specific reasons for the termination of the deal, which built on MTP's presence in the allergy and respiratory areas through products such as the bronchodilator Theodur (theophylline). However, MTP suggested that it was moving to concentrate resources on mainstay products such as Remicade (infliximab; licensed from Johnson & Johnson).
The Japanese firm is facing an uncertain outlook this fiscal year following an administrative action in Japan in April relating to its violation of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. This was in relation to quality and data issues with the recombinant human serum albumin product, Medway (scripintelligence.com, 14 April 2010).