Asahi Kasei Pharma gains rights to Kevzara in Japan

11 December 2017

The Japanese subsidiary of French pharma major Sanofi (Euronext: SAN) has signed a license agreement with Asahi Kasei Pharma (TYO: 3407) for the marketing of rheumatoid arthritis drug Kevzara Subcutaneous Injection (sarilumab [rDNA origin]) in Japan.

Developed jointly by Sanofi and US biotech firm Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: REGN) Kevzara is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors and thereby blocks the action of interleukin (IL)-6, which is known to play an important role in inflammation of the synovial membrane of joints.

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