Clinigen launches Japanese business to strengthen Asian presence

Clinigen Group, the global pharmaceuticals and services group, has launched its Japanese business with the opening of an office in Tokyo, Japan. The establishment of Clinigen KK further expands the Group’s presence in Asia, following Clinigen’s acquisition of Link Healthcare in 2015.

Alongside the launch, Clinigen KK will transfer the marketing authorisation for its lead specialty pharmaceutical (SP) product Foscavir (foscarnet sodium) back from Nobel Pharma on 1 November 2016. Nobel Pharma has been the distribution partner for Foscavir in Japan since 2011.

Foscavir is indicated to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or cytomegalovirus viremia and cytomegalovirus disease in haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients. Japan was the first market where Clinigen successfully achieved a new license extension for HSCT patients in 2011.

Japan remains an important market for Foscavir with more than 2000 patients treated annually. Clinigen will assume full marketing and distribution responsibility for Foscavir from November, to supply the product to healthcare professionals and patients across Japan.

Clinigen KK is a significant milestone for the group in expanding its global footprint as Japan is the second largest pharmaceutical market globally. The Japanese business will allow the group to supply and distribute both licensed and unlicensed medicines in the country, providing additional infrastructure to support Clinigen's mission to deliver the right medicine to the right patient at the right time.

Clinigen employs more than 500 people globally, across 11 locations. The opening of the Japanese office further expands its international supply chain and operational network.

Shaun Chilton, Chief Executive Officer-designate, said: 'We are focused on building our market leadership positions by expanding in key geographic regions to drive sustained organic growth and better address unmet patient needs for access to critical medicines. The opening of our Japanese business helps support our goals and will enable us to effectively serve the Japanese market by supplying our own products, beginning with Foscavir.'

'At a time when many pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies are looking for specialist partners to work with them in Asia, the opening of our Japanese office gives us more opportunities to provide customers with our global expertise combined with local knowledge,' he added.