Singapore: Japanese pharma giant Amgen Astellas BioPharma and Astellas Pharma recently announced the launch of their product- Repatha inhibitor syringe in the Japanese market. The genetically recombined injection that consists of a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin types 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor will be co-promoted by both companies.

Repatha, indicated for the treatment of patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) or hypercholesterolemia, was co-developed in Japan by joint venture Amgen Astellas and US biotech major Amgen. It was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare earlier this year.

"Amgen Astellas began operations in 2013, and today we are pleased to begin providing Repatha, the first product of Amgen Astellas and Japan's first PCSK9 inhibitor," said, Mr Yukiya Suzuki, the head of sales and marketing of Amgen Astellas, " We are committed to serving the medical needs of the country and are excited about the potential of Repatha to help improve the treatment of patients with high cholesterol who have high risk in cardiovascular events and do not adequately respond to statins."