JT and Torii Sign Licensing Agreement with ALK for Development and Commercialization of Histamine Dihydrochloride Preparation in Japan

Source from:  4-traders.com  01/31/2013

Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) (TSE:2914) and Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Torii) (TSE:4551) announced today that the Companies have signed a licensing agreement with ALK-Abelló A/S (ALK), under which JT and Torii will obtain exclusive rights to develop and commercialize ALK's histamine dihydrochloride preparation in Japan. The histamine dihydrochloride preparation has been marketed in Europe under the name of Soluprick® Positive control by ALK.

The histamine dihydrochloride preparation is used as a positive control in skin-prick test to identify allergen that causes allergic reaction. In Japan, no positive control product for allergy skin-prick test has been approved as a medical product, while a negative control product is marketed by Torii.
 A histamine dihydrochloride preparation is one of the medical products publicly offered for a development company by the Study Group on Unapproved and Off-label Drugs of High Medical Need, set up by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, to facilitate development of unapproved and off-label drugs which have been available outside Japan. JT and Torii will jointly develop the histamine dihydrochloride preparation in Japan.

JT and Torii will aim to make the histamine dyhidrochloride preparation available to patients and their healthcare providers as soon as possible in Japan.  Soluprick® is a registered trademark of ALK.

About ALK-Abelló A/S

ALK-Abelló A/S, established in 1923, is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company that focuses on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of allergies. ALK is the world leader in allergy vaccination (immunotherapy). The company has approx. 1,800 employees with subsidiaries, production facilities and distributors worldwide. The company is headquartered in Denmark and is listed on NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen A/S (OMX: ALK B).

Japan Tobacco Inc. is a leading international tobacco product company. Its products are sold in over 120 countries and its internationally recognized cigarette brands include Winston, Camel, Mild Seven and Benson & Hedges. With diversified operations, JT is also actively present in pharmaceuticals and foods. The company's revenue were ¥2.034 trillion (US$24,745 million(*)) in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012.

*Translated at the rate of ¥82.19 per $1, as of March 31, 2012

Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., (Torii) established in 1921, manufactures and distributes ethical pharmaceutical products. Torii markets drugs in a number of priority therapeutic areas: renal diseases and hemodialysis including pruritus in hemodialysis patients, acute diseases including acute pancreatitis, HIV, skin diseases including atopic dermatitis, lifestyle-related diseases including gout, and allergy. Torii has been the only company in Japan that manufactures and sells allergen agents for more than 40 years. Torii's principal shareholder is Japan Tobacco Inc.

Contacts for Japan Tobacco Inc.: Contact for Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.:Hideyuki Yamamoto, General Manager Planning Department (Public Relations) Ryohei Sugata, Associate General Manager Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Enditem