AstraZeneca has announced that its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, has entered an agreement granting Daiichi Sankyo Company, Ltd. (Daiichi Sankyo) an exclusive license to develop and commercialize FluMist® Quadrivalent in Japan.
FluMist Quadrivalent is a live attenuated influenza vaccine which is administered as a nasal spray and contains four protective strains. Phase III safety and efficacy studies were conducted for FluMist Quadrivalent in Japanese children over the 2014-2015 influenza season and a regulatory submission is being prepared in Japan.
Under the terms of the agreement, Daiichi Sankyo will pay AstraZeneca an upfront fee with subsequent development milestones and sales-related payments post launch. Daiichi Sankyo will take on the full responsibility for the future development and commercialization of FluMist Quadrivalent in Japan and will hold the marketing authorization; AstraZeneca will supply FluMist Quadrivalent to Daiichi Sankyo.
Marc Dunoyer, Chief Financial Officer and senior executive team member responsible for Japan, said: “We’re pleased to enter into this agreement with Daiichi Sankyo, whose specific expertise in developing and commercializing innovative vaccines will help ensure we bring FluMist Quadrivalent to as many children as possible in Japan.”
Takeshi Ogita, Member of the Board & Head of Vaccine Business Unit, Daiichi Sankyo, said: “We are proud to be able to deliver, once approved, FluMist Quadrivalent to Japanese children and adolescents and to make a contribution to public health by protecting people from influenza.”
The transaction reflects AstraZeneca’s business model, which includes collaborating with companies that have the expertise, focus and resources to maximize the potential of the company’s innovative medicines for the benefit of patients and shareholders. The agreement builds on the successful collaborations between AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, such as the co-commercialization of NEXIUM® in Japan and MOVANTIK™ in the US.
The agreement does not impact AstraZeneca’s financial guidance for 2015.