Japan's MHLW Council Approves Merck's Sitagliptin
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
Japan's Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare approved Merck's sitagliptin for type II diabetes July 24. The first committee of the Pharmaceutical Affairs And Food Sanitation Council cleared the first dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitor in Japan. Sitagliptin will be manufactured and marketed by Merck Japan licensing partner Ono Pharmaceutical, and manufactured and marketed under Januvia by Merck Japan unit Banyu Pharmaceutical. The market exclusivity time is 8 years. The final approval is expected to be handed out in September. Sitagliptin is currently approved in over 80 countries. (Click here for more - Japanese language