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Health care industry

Yakult Honsha Expands Elplat's Reach: Multiple Cancer Treatments in the Works

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Yakult Honsha Co., a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company, is pursuing multiple cancer treatment approvals for its colorectal cancer drug Elplat, also known as oxaliplatin. Building on Elplat's success in Japan, which has already surpassed its first-year sales target of 900 million yen, the company aims to expand its use to treat stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer. Domestic clinical trials are set to begin during the current fiscal year, with a focus on the 30,000 Japanese patients requiring chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Key Takeaways:

  • Yakult Honsha is working to expand the application of Elplat, a colorectal cancer treatment, to stomach cancer, pancreatic cancer, and lung cancer.
  • The company plans to initiate domestic clinical trials for Elplat during the current fiscal year to support its approval for these additional indications.
  • Sales of Elplat in Japan have already exceeded its first-year target of 900 million yen, with over 3 billion yen in sales recorded in September.
  • Elplat, also known as oxaliplatin, was released in Japan in April and is being developed by Debiopharm SA in Switzerland.
  • French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis Group has worldwide rights to sell Elplat, excluding Japan, with annual sales of 1.2 billion euros.
  • Yakult Honsha has submitted its 10th approval application for another cancer treatment, Campto (irinotecan hydrochloride), to treat pancreatic cancer, but faces patent expiration in 2007.
  • The company aims to keep its pharmaceutical business afloat by expanding Elplat's reach and developing new treatments.

Statistics:

  • Elplat sales in Japan have surpassed 3 billion yen as of September.
  • First-year sales target for Elplat: 900 million yen.
  • Current secular sales: over 3 billion yen.
  • Approximately 115,000 Japanese patients suffer from colorectal cancer.
  • 30,000 Japanese patients with colorectal cancer require chemotherapy.
  • Annual sales of Elplat worldwide (excluding Japan): 1.2 billion euros.

Sources:

  • "Yakult works to expand Elplat's reach" in Asia Pulse, November 18
  • (Note: The original text does not provide a direct source reference. However, based on the provided information, this response includes the Asia Pulse date and appears below as the only source.)

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