Kureha Signs Licensing Agreement With Mitsubishi Tanabe

Kureha Corporation and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma have entered into an agreement, under which Kureha shall grant Mitsubishi Tanabe a license to market chronic renal failure drug Kremezin in Japan.

Kremezin is manufactured by Kureha and marketed by Daiichi Sankyo Company in Japan under a license agreement. To properly reflect the agreement between Kureha and Mitsubishi Tanabe, a sub-license marketing agreement has been executed between Mitsubishi Tanabe and Daiichi Sankyo for Kremezin in Japan.

In accordance with these agreements, from November 1, 2009, Mitsubishi Tanabe will purchase Kremezin and supply it to Daiichi Sankyo, and Daiichi Sankyo will continue its marketing and promotional activities as in the past.

Kremezin is an oral adsorptive charcoal, consisting of porous spherical activated carbon of high purity. The drug, which was introduced to the Japanese market in 1991, adsorbs uremic toxins secreted in the gastrointestinal tract or produced in the intestinal tract and excretes the toxins out of the body with the feces. According to Kureha, this function of Kremezin is effective in improving symptoms of uremia and delaying the introduction of dialysis treatment.

Kureha, Mitsubishi Tanabe and Daiichi Sankyo will continue to cooperate in Kremezin business in Japan, the company said.