AsianScientist (Apr. 2, 2014) – Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. has acquired the rights to the hematological cancer treatment Dacogen® and an enzyme inhibitor E7727, from Eisai Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd.
Dacogen® is a DNA methylation inhibitor used to treat myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The drug is an intravenous formulation of decitabine that has been approved for sale in the United States. The rights allow Otsuka to develop and sell Dacogen® in the US, Canada and Japan, as well as use the license worldwide, with the exception of Mexico.
Otsuka also acquired the patent rights to a metabolic enzyme inhibitor, E7727. Otsuka is in pre-clinical development for a combination drug, ASTX727, which consists of E7727 and decitabine. If approved, ASTX727 would be the first oral formulation of decitabine available in the clinic.
Otsuka will continue their existing decitabine-related business through Astex Pharmaceuticals, a U.S. subsidiary, concurrent with advancing clinical development of ASTX727 with the aim to provide an alternative, early-stage option in the treatment of MDS.
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Source: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.
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