Astellas Pharma : MSD and Astellas conclude co-promotion agreement in Japan for type 2 diabetes combination drug

Tokyo, November 28, 2017 -MSD K.K. (President: Jannie Oosthuizen; 'MSD') and Astellas Pharma Inc. (President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka; 'Astellas') today announced that they have concluded a co-promotion agreement ('the Agreement') for a combination drug of the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin phosphate hydrate (brand name: JANUVIA Tablets) and the SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin L-Proline (brand name: Suglat Tablets) for the treatment of type-2 diabetes in Japan (MSD has submitted an application for the treatment of type-2 diabetes in Japan). The two companies concluded a basic agreement on co-development and co-commercialization of the drug in Japan in 2015.

MSD will obtain the marketing approval for the drug, and Astellas will distribute it. And MSD and Astellas will jointly provide information to medical institutions according to the Agreement.

JANUVIA Tablet is the first selective DPP-4 inhibitor in Japan manufactured and marketed by MSD. This once-daily inhibitor selectively inhibits DPP-4 and increases the active incretin levels, thus demonstrating glucose-dependent glucose-lowering effect. Suglat Tablet is the first selective SGLT2 inhibitor in Japan manufactured and marketed by Astellas. With once-daily administration, it selectively inhibits SGLT2 and blocks renal glucose reuptake, thus demonstrating non-insulin-dependent glucose-lowering effect. The combination of these two drugs with different mechanisms of action for the treatment of type-2 diabetes is expected to improve adherence by reducing patients' burden of taking drugs.

MSD and Astellas look forward to further contributing to the treatment of diabetes by offering a new treatment option for type-2 diabetes patients who have difficulty controlling blood sugar levels with monotherapy.