Print(PDF/108KB) Jan. 29, 2015 Licensing

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Announces Collaboration on Lurasidone, an Atypical Antipsychotic Agent, for Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Osaka, Japan; President: Masayo Tada) announced today that the Company has concluded an agreement with DKSH (Thailand) Limited (Head office: Bangkok, Thailand) relating to marketing, sales and distribution in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong of lurasidone hydrochloride (generic name, "lurasidone"), an atypical antipsychotic created by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma.

Prior to the conclusion of the agreement, applications for new drug approval for lurasidone with proposed indication of schizophrenia were submitted in November 2014 in Thailand and in December 2014 in Hong Kong by DKSH (Thailand) Limited and by DKSH Hong Kong Limited, respectively, pursuant to registration services agreements individually concluded with the DKSH Group companies. Likewise, DKSH Singapore Pte Limited is scheduled to submit an application with the Singapore authorities in February 2015. Upon successful approval in Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma will supply DKSH (Thailand) with lurasidone bulk tablets and the DKSH Group member company in that country will start the local distribution and sale.

Lurasidone is a product of major importance for Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma's global business strategy. It is already on the market in the U.S., Canada, Switzerland, the U.K. and Norway, with plans for launch in many more. The collaboration with DKSH (Thailand) for Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong represents a major step forward to expand our lurasidone business. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma plans to continue contributing to the treatment of schizophrenia by offering lurasidone to a larger number of patients around the world.

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About lurasidone:
Lurasidone is an atypical antipsychotic developed originally by Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma, characterized by a unique chemical structure and an affinity for dopamine D2, serotonin 5-HT2A and serotonin 5-HT7 receptors where it has antagonist effects. In addition, lurasidone is a partial agonist at the serotonin 5-HT1A receptor and has no appreciable affinity for histamine or muscarinic receptors.
Under the brand name of LATUDA®, lurasidone has been available for the treatment of adults with schizophrenia in the United States since February 2011, in Canada since September 2012, in Switzerland since September 2013, in the U.K. since August 2014 and in Norway since September 2014. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma is conducting Phase III clinical trials with a view to acquiring approval of lurasidone for the treatment of schizophrenia in Japan and China. Similar efforts are ongoing in collaboration with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for 30 European and other countries, with Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited for four Latin American countries and with Standard Chem. & Pharm. Co., Ltd. for Taiwan.

About DKSH:
DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets.

Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since March 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich. With 735 business locations in 35 countries - 710 of them in Asia - and 27,200 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 9.6 billion in 2013.

DKSH Business Unit Healthcare is the leading Market Expansion Services provider for healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Asia. Custom-made offerings comprise registration and market entry studies as well as importation, customs clearance, marketing and sales to physical distribution, invoicing and cash collection. Products available through DKSH Healthcare include ethical pharmaceuticals, consumer health, over-the-counter (OTC), as well as medical devices. With 150 business locations in 14 countries and around 9,050 specialized staff, Business Unit Healthcare serves over 160,000 customers and generated net sales of around CHF 4.3 billion in 2013.

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