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Dr Reddy's Laboratories (DRL) on March 31, 2016 entered into a licensing agreement with Japan’s Eisai Co Ltd for for Eisai’s investigational anticancer agent E7777. As per the deal, Dr Reddy’s will be granted exclusive worldwide development and commercialisation rights (excluding Japan and Asia) for E7777. Eisai will be responsible for the development and marketing of E7777 in Japan and Asia, while Dr Reddy’s holds the option for rights to develop and market the agent in India.
In exchange of these rights, Eisai will receive milestone payments in line with obtaining marketing approval and the achievement of agreed upon sales targets. Through this agreement, the two companies aim to accelerate development and maximise the value of E7777.
Raghav Chari, executive vice president, proprietary products group, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories, commented, “The collaboration between DRL and Eisai is a tremendous win-win. E7777 has significant potential as an important component of systemic therapy for CTCL (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma). This therapy represents an extension of our current efforts in the dermatology space to an important segment of skin-related cancers.”
E7777 is a fusion protein that combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxins that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. A phase II clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma or peripheral T-cell lymphoma is currently underway in Japan. Preparations are simultaneously in progress for a phase III clinical study of the agent in patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the US.
Terushige Iike, chief product creation officer of Eisai Product Creation Systems, said, “This agreement aligns with Eisai's drive to contribute to patients in our focused field of oncology as quickly as possible. Eisai and Dr Reddy's will conduct development in their respective territories, and by working to accelerate and maximise contribution to patients, we hope to launch treatments that will fulfil the diverse needs of, and bring about benefits for, patients with cancer and their families."
