Pharmaceutical Business review

Eisai to discontinue antiobesity drug development

Eisai obtained the exclusive rights to develop and market KES524 in Japan in an agreement with Abbott.

Eisai had submitted a MAA for the agent to the Japanese regulatory authorities in November 2007 based on results of clinical studies it conducted in Japan.

However, following Abbott’s recent suspension/withdrawal of the drug from some global markets including the US and Europe, the company has decided to withdraw the MAA and discontinue the development of antiobesity agent KES524.