 |
|
|
December 22, 2011
| Toray Industries, Inc. |
| Japan Tobacco Inc. |
| Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
|
|
| Toray, Japan Tobacco and Torii Terminate the Joint Development of nalfurafine hydrochloride (“TRK-820”) for Pruritus Associated with Liver Disease in Japan |
|
Toray Industries, Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Akihiro Nikkaku; hereinafter referred to as “Toray”), Japan Tobacco Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Kimura) and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Norihiko Matsuo; hereinafter referred to as “Torii”) are marketing REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg (generic name: nalfurafine hydrochloride; manufactured and marketing approval held by Toray, promoted and distributed by Torii, and co-developed by Japan Tobacco), an oral antipruritus drug for hemodialysis patients, since March 2009 in Japan.
Since September 2006, the companies have been jointly developing nalfurafine hydrochloride (“TRK-820”: Toray development code) for an additional indication to treat pruritus among chronic liver disease patients in Japan. Following Torii’s recent decision to concentrate its efforts on the sales of REMITCH in its key therapeutic area of renal/hemodialysis, the three companies have agreed to discontinue the joint development program targeting pruritus associated with chronic liver disease.
The development is currently in Phase III. Toray will continue the development on its own to maximize the potential of the drug in the hepatic disease area where the company shows proven bushiness performance.
Torii will continue to market REMITCH® CAPSULES 2.5 µg antipruritus drug for hemodialysis patients. All three companies will continue to cooperate in nurturing the drug.
| Corporate Profiles |
|
| Toray Industries, Inc. |
|
Headquarters: |
1-1, Nihonbashi-Muromachi 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
|
President: |
Akihiro Nikkaku |
|
Capital: |
147.873 billion yen (as of September 30, 2011) |
|
| Japan Tobacco Inc. |
|
Headquarters: |
2-1, Toranomon 2-chome, Minato-ku, Tokyo |
|
President and CEO: |
Hiroshi Kimura |
|
Capital: |
100 billion yen (as of September 30, 2011) |
|
| Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
|
Headquarters: |
Torii Nihonbashi Bldg., 4-1, Nihonbashi-Honcho 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
|
President: |
Norihiko Matsuo |
|
Capital: |
5.19 billion yen (as of September 30, 2011) |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
