Singapore: Daiichi Sankyo announced that its European subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo Europe (DSE) GmbH Group has granted exclusive rights to Merck & Co, known as MSD outside the US and Canada to market the oral, once-daily anti-coagulant, LIXIANA (edoxaban), in 13 European countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden.

DSE currently has no affiliated companies in these countries, so this agreement will contribute significantly to the growth of edoxaban in Europe.

The aforementioned 13 countries are subject to the marketing authorization of the oral, once-daily anti-coagulant edoxaban which was obtained from the European Commission last June. Sales will proceed as soon as MSD completes launch preparations.

"Following the successful launches of the oral, once-daily edoxaban by Daiichi Sankyo in a number of European markets, we are extremely happy about the agreement with MSD which makes edoxaban now also accessible to patients in Northern and Central Eastern Europe", said Mr Jan Van Ruymbeke, CEO Daiichi Sankyo Europe. "and we believe having one of the biggest pharma companies in the world as our partner is a vote of confidence in edoxaban's potential in the NOAC market."