TOKYO, December 7, 2020 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas” ) and Viatris Pharmaceuticals Japan Inc. (Country Manager: Sun-A Kim, “Viatris”) announced that the two companies have agreed to end the joint sales promotion (co-promotion) of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic "Celecox® Tablets 100mg, 200mg" (generic name: celecoxib, “Celecox”) manufactured and sold by Astellas and co-promoted by both companies in Japan on December 31, 2020.
In accordance with this agreement, Celecox promotion, which to date has been carried out jointly by both companies, will be conducted solely by Viatris as of January 1, 2021. Astellas will continue its distribution until the termination of the agreement on July 31, 2021, after which time Viatris will be the Marketing Anthorization Holder of Celecox.
In Japan, Celecox was launched for the indication of “relief of inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis” in June 2007. Subsequently, “relief of inflammation and pain associated with lumbago, scapulohumeral periarthritis, cervico-omo-brachial syndrome, and tendinists / tendosynovitis” were approved as additional indications in June 2009. In December 2011, "anti-inflammatory / pain relief after surgery, trauma, and tooth extraction" were also approved as additional indications.
The impact of this transaction on Astellas’ financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 is expected to be minor.
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