Singapore: Japan-based pharma major, Sosei, recently announced the acquisition of Jitsubo, a Japanese peptide technology firm. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition of the new platform technology is expected to enable Sosei enter the peptide market.

Sosei said in a statement that together with APNT (the nanoparticle technology of the group's subsidiary, Activus Pharma), Jitsubo's cutting-edge peptide technology will play an important role in achieving the mid-long term strategic goals of the group.

Jitsubo's technology will replenish Sosei's existing pipeline with new peptide products and will further enhance corporate value. This will help in expanding the latter's product portfolio form respiratory treatments to branded and generic peptide products.

Jitsubo was established in April 2005 by Mr Kazuhiro Chiba, MD, PhD, a professor at the United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, with the aim of commercializing his scientific findings.