Maruishi To Develop And Market Chirocaine In Japan

Maruishi Pharmaceutical Co. is to begin marketing Chirocaine, a long-acting, local anaesthetic, in Japan under a new licensing agreement with Chiroscience Group, PLC.

Under the agreement, Maruishi will develop and register a series of products and formulations containing levobupivacaine exclusively for the Japanese market. Clinical trials in Japan are expected to commence in 1999 and Maruishi will gain exclusive rights to market products under the Chirocaine trademark in Japan. Maruishi will also have the right to manufacture levobupivacaine in Japan, although Chiroscience will initially manufacture and supply levobupivacaine to them.

Nobuyuki Inoue, president of Maruishi Pharmaceutical, said: "We believe that the superior properties of Chirocaine will allow us to develop a range of products, and will facilitate the increased use of safe and effective regional anesthesia in Japanese hospitals."

Maruishi will make access payments amounting to £3.25 million, as well as undisclosed milestone payments and will fully fund the development of Chirocaine in Japan.

Dr. John Padfield, chief executive of Chiroscience, said: "We have built up a strong relationship with Maruishi who are specialists in anesthesia in Japan. They will make an excellent marketing partner for Chirocaine and have a good track record in developing and maximizing the sales potential of innovative anaesthetic products."

For more information: Dr. John Padfield, CEO, Chiroscience Group, PLC, Cambridge, UK. Telephone: 44-1223-420-430.