Eisai Acquires AkaRx For $255m

Eisai has completed its acquisition of AkaRx for approximately $255m. As a result of the acquisition, AkaRx is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eisai and Eisai has the exclusive worldwide rights to develop, market and manufacture AKR-501.

AKR-501 is an investigational thrombopoietin receptor agonist that, based on preclinical studies, increases platelet production by stimulating megakaryocytic proliferation and differentiation. In addition, Eisai will explore the compound’s potential as a treatment for chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT).

Reportedly, Eisai is currently conducting phase II clinical trials of AKR-501 in the US as a potential treatment for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and thrombocytopenia associated with liver diseases (TLD), and has confirmed proof of concept in the clinical studies for ITP.

Headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, Eisai is a research-based human health care (hhc) company that discovers, develops and markets products throughout the world. Eisai’s areas of commercial focus include neurology, gastrointestinal disorders and oncology/critical care.