Singapore: Japanese pharmaceutical major Santen Pharmaceutical has decided to sign an agreement with Showa Yakuhin Kakou and Hyperion Pharma to assign its anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business to Hyperion, under a simplified company-split method, under the Company Act of Japan (Assignment). This decision was taken at the company's board of directors meeting held on May 12, 2015.

Showa Yakuhin is a pharmaceutical company, which is under an investment fund, being advised by the Unison Capital Incorporation. After the completion of the Assignment, Showa Yakuhin intends to merge its pharmaceutical business with the anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business succeeded by Hyperion.

Hyperion is a wholly-owned special purpose company of an investment fund which Unison advises that was established to succeed the anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business from Santen.

On completion of the transaction, Showa plans to integrate its pharmaceutical business with Hyperion. Hyperion, the newly integrated company, will start operation as a company specialized in orthopaedics and rheumatism.

Hyperion will take on Santen's expertize in rheumatism as well as the activities carried out by Showa in the field of analgesics as Hyperion's two-core businesses and work toward further growth.

In the future, Hyperion will expand its business into osteoporosis and osteoarthritis and establish an 'open platform in orthopaedics and rheumatism', while keeping in mind the development of its biological products business.