This three year agreement is for the US only and will add more than 500 additional sales representatives from TAP to increase the reach and frequency of the Shire sales force, which consists of 120 representatives who are currently detailing Lialda primarily to gastroenterologists. The TAP sales force will begin detailing Lialda to specialists and targeted primary care physicians in April 2008. Shire shall compensate TAP based upon TAP’s success under the co-promotion agreement. Upon dissolution of the TAP joint venture, Takeda will promote Lialda under the agreement.
Once-daily Lialda with MMX technology contains the highest mesalamine dose per tablet (1.2g), so patients can take as few as two tablets once daily. Other currently available mesalamines require three to four times daily dosing and six to 16 pills a day.
Mike Yasick, senior vice president of Shire’s Gastrointestinal Business Unit, said: “Shire’s GI team has made Lialda the fastest growing brand of mesalamine and with this collaboration we will bolster the frequency of sales calls to our existing base of specialist physicians.”