Pfizer Japan, Takeda Terminate Distribution Agreement of Prevenar13 and Benefix in Japan, Effective Dec. 31, 2016

TOKYO and OSAKA, Japan I August 5, 2016 I Pfizer Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, President & CEO Ichiro Umeda, “Pfizer”) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502, Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka, President & CEO Christophe Weber, “Takeda”), announced today that they have concluded an agreement that, as of December 31, 2016, Takeda will cease distribution of the pneumococcus conjugate vaccine PREVENAR13® (generic name: Pneumococcal 13-valent Conjugate Vaccine, “PREVENAR13”) and hemophilia B drug BENEFIX® (generic name: nonacog alfa, “BENEFIX”) that it currently distributed under an exclusive distribution agreement with Pfizer, and that Pfizer, the manufacturer of the products, will begin selling them as of January 1, 2017.

Since PREVENAR®, the predecessor of PREVENAR13, was launched in Japan in February 2010 by Wyeth K.K., now Pfizer, PREVENAR13 in October 2013 by Pfizer, BENEFIX 500, 1000, 2000 in January 2010 by Wyeth K.K., and 3000 in December 2013 by Pfizer, Takeda has been distributing the products. Presently, due to changes in the business environment surrounding the two companies, the agreement was reached as a result of consultation between them in order to maximize the product value of the products.

Aside from this exclusive distribution agreement, the two companies have concluded a co-promotion agreement for the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) drugs XELJANZ® (generic name: tofacitinib citrate) and ENBREL® (generic name: etanercept), the co-promotion of which will be continued by both companies while the marketing will be continued by Takeda.

Pfizer and Takeda will work closely to smoothly implement the marketing transfer of PREVENAR13 and BENEFIX. The companies will remain committed to contributing to healthcare by providing drugs that meet the needs of patients and medical professionals.

SOURCE: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co