Erbitux partners plan for Japan marketing

German drug major Merck KGaA says that it has established an agreement with USA-based ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb for the co-development and co-commercialization of Erbitux (cetuximab) in Japan, if approved by the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency. ImClone discovered and manufactures the drug, which it has out-licensed to the two drugmakers in various regions.

Under terms of the accord, Merck, ImClone and B-MS will jointly market the product under the common trade mark Erbitux in Japan for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), as well as for the any other cancers that the parties decide to pursue. Merck and B-MS will utilize their respective sales forces in Japan and the three companies will share development costs, sales and marketing expenses, and profits realized as a result of the agreement. The German group's Merck Serono Japan subsidiary will distribute the product and book the sales for the collaboration.