Japanese research-driven pharmaceutical company Shionogi & Co., Ltd., on 24 June 2019, announces that the Company has concluded an agreement with China based Eddingpharm to license-out lusutrombopag, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist (brand name in Japan: MULPLETA^®).

In China, about 13.6 million adult patients have chronic liver disease and many of them are said to be planning to receive elective invasive therapy. On the other hand, the country faces a chronic shortage of blood for transfusions due to a growing demand for blood during advanced higher-level medical care, in addition to a lower rate of voluntary blood donation as compared to Europe, the U.S., and Japan. Additionally, it is also known that the current stored blood supply in China is at a high risk of transfusion-transmitted infections. Under such circumstances, the application of lusutrombopag is a preferable mode of therapy versus platelet transfusion.

Eddingpharm is a pharmaceutical company with a broad-based sales network that covers hospitals nationwide specializing in liver disease, blood disorders, and infections where prescriptions of lusutrombopag are expected. Following product approval, it is anticipated that the two parties will further contribute to the clinical treatment of patients in China by leveraging Eddingpharm's broad sales network and Shionogi's know-how in developing and marketing lusutrombopag globally. With the execution of this agreement, Eddingpharm will be granted with exclusive license right of lusutrombopag in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau while Shionogi will supply the product to Eddingpharm and receive an upfront payment as well as milestone payments according to post-launch sales periods. It is also agreed that the two companies will cooperate on the application for approval. The Company has been proceeding with preparations toward the application for approval of the product in China.

"We are very excited about this collaboration. This collaboration is an important milestone for patients in China living with chronic liver disease, bringing a well-tolerated and effective treatment option for severe thrombocytopenia that facilitates the management of invasive procedures one step closer to these patients,” said Dr Isao Teshirogi, President and Chief Executive Officer, Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

Ni Xin, Chief Executive Officer of Eddingpharm, said: "The relationship between Eddingpharm and Shionogi started 12 years ago and I am very pleased to establish this long-term collaboration with Shionogi on Mulpleta. As a pharmaceutical company with 140 years of history, Shionogi has a proven track record in developing innovative products. It's an honour for Eddingpharm to bring such a high quality medicine Mulpleta to China. Eddingpharm's vision and mission is always to serve patients in China by bringing in global high quality pharmaceutical products. We will work closely with Shionogi to launch Mulpleta in China as soon as possible to help thrombopenia patients in need."