Daiichi Sankyo Signs Agreement with AstraZeneca to Co-Commercialize Movantik in the US

Daiichi Sankyo has announced a co-commercialization agreement with AstraZeneca for Movantik (naloxegol) in the US, in line with the Daiichi Sankyo strategy to expand its US portfolio through strategic alliances, in addition to internal R&D and acquisitions. Movantik is a first-in-class, once-daily, oral, peripherally-acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist (PAMORA) for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in adults with chronic non-cancer pain.

Movantik was approved by the FDA in September 2014. It was descheduled by the US Drug Enforcement Administration in January 2015 and is no longer labelled as a controlled substance. The launch of Movantik in the US is planned for early April 2015.

Under the terms of the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will pay a $200 million up-front fee and subsequent sales-related payments of up to $625 million. AstraZeneca will be responsible for manufacturing, will book all sales and will make sales-related commission payments to Daiichi Sankyo. Both companies will be jointly responsible for commercial activities.

Ken Keller, President, US Commercial, Daiichi Sankyo said: "We are proud to bring our proven primary care and specialty expertise to this collaboration with AstraZeneca. Movantik represents an opportunity to help patients manage one of the most common conditions arising from widely used pain medications, as well as an opportunity to continue to build the Daiichi Sankyo US portfolio of medicines in this therapeutic area."

Paul Hudson, President, AstraZeneca US and Executive Vice President, North America said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Daiichi Sankyo to expand our commercialisation efforts in the US to get this important medicine to the large number of patients suffering with opioid-induced constipation. Our agreement reflects our evolving business model by creating value from our portfolio through externalization activity. Together, we will grow the potential of this important treatment, while we retain our significant interest in the long-term commercial success of Movantik in our largest market."