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March 23, 2009
| Toray Industries, Inc. |
| Japan Tobacco Inc. |
| Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
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| Launch of REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg , new oral antipruritus drug |
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Toray Industries, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Sadayuki Sakakibara; "Toray"); Japan Tobacco Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Kimura); and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Norihiko Matsuo; "Torii") hereby announced that Torii would launch REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg (generic name: nalfurafine hydrochloride), an oral antipruritus drug for hemodialysis patients , starting March 24. It was jointly developed by the three companies and its manufacturing and marketing approval was obtained in Japan by Toray on January 21, 2009.
Hemodialysis-related uremic pruritus is a condition that causes systemic and severe itching without inflammation on the skin and its cause has yet been clearly elucidated. It is known that this type of itching is not relieved by conventional antipruritus drugs (such as antihistamines) and the development of effective medicines has long been awaited.
REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg is a selective κ (kappa)-opioid receptor agonist, originated from Toray, Japan for the first time as an oral drug to treat itching in hemodialysis patients that is resistant to existing treatments.
This drug is expected to make further contribution to the treatment of pruritus in hemodialysis patients.
Following is the outlines of REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg.
Notes:
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Brand name: |
REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg |
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Generic name: |
Nalfurafine hydrochloride |
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Indication: |
Improvement of pruritus in hemodialysis patients
(only for cases resistant to conventional treatments) |
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Dosage and administration: |
The usual oral dosage for adults is 2.5 µg of nalfurafine hydrochloride, once a day, after supper or before sleep. The dosage may be adjusted according to symptoms provided that it does not exceed 5 µg once a day. |
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Packaging: |
REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5µg: 140 capsules in press-through package (PTP) (14 capsules × 10) |
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Date of manufacturing and marketing approval: |
January 21, 2009 |
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Date of NHI price listing: |
March 13, 2009 |
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Date of launch: |
March 24, 2009 |
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NHI (reimbursement) price: |
¥1,745.10 per capsule |
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Marketing Authorization Holder: |
Toray Industries, Inc. |
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Distributed by: |
Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
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Co-developed by: |
Japan Tobacco Inc. |
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| Corporate Profiles |
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| Toray Industries, Inc. |
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Headquarters: |
1-1, Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
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President, CEO & COO, representative director: |
Sadayuki Sakakibara |
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Capital: |
96.937 billion yen (as of March 31, 2008) |
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| Japan Tobacco Inc. |
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Headquarters: |
2-1, Toranomon 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
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President and CEO and Representative Director: |
Hiroshi Kimura |
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Capital: |
100 billion yen (as of March 31, 2008) |
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| Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
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Headquarters: |
Torii Nihonbashi Bldg., 4-1, Nihonbashi-Honcho 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
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President: |
Norihiko Matsuo |
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Capital: |
5.19 billion yen (as of March 31, 2008) |
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