Eisai to enter Russia with epilepsy launch
pharmafile | June 27, 2012 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Eisai, Russia, Zonegran, emerging markets, epilepsy
Eisai is to enter the Russian market for the first time with the launch of epilepsy drug Zonegran.
Entry into the Russian marketplace is part of the company’s expansion plans, which include having a presence in the top 20 pharmaceutical markets and help treat more than 500 million patients by 2015.
Russia is one of the key emerging markets for pharmaceuticals – it is already the 11th largest market for the sector, and is expecting rapid growth in the coming years.
Zonegran (zonisamide) is expected to be available across Russia as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of adult epilepsy patients with partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation by the end of Eisai’s financial year 2012 (30 March 2013).
The launch of the drug is significant as treatment of partial-onset seizures (the most common type of epilepsy) remains a challenge.
Zonisamide is an established treatment, having been launched Europe in 2005. The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recently issued a positive opinion for extending the use of once-daily zonisamide as monotherapy for the treatment of partial seizures in adults with newly diagnosed epilepsy.
“Eisai has been successfully operating in Europe for more than 20 years and we are proud to be increasing access to key medicines in countries outside of this region,” commented Gary Hendler, president and chief executive of Eisai’s growing Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) business. “We are delighted to announce the approval of our first product in Russia.
“As further realisation of our mission to contribute to the health and well-being of people worldwide, Zonegran will be available to people living with epilepsy to aid in the ongoing fight to improve seizure control in adults with partial seizures, with or without secondary generalisation,” said Hendler.
The company have also submitted marketing authorisation applications for a number of its other existing products, including cancer treatment Halaven (eribulin) and AMPA-type glutamate receptor antagonist Fycompa (perampanel).
Eisai recently expanded their UK Hatfield facility which now supports the company’s growing European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) business.
Eisai is concentrating its R&D activities in three key areas: neuroscience, oncology and vascular/Immunological reaction including acute coronary syndrome, atherothrombotic disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
Andrew McConaghie
Related Content
Eisai shares new data for Leqembi for Alzheimer’s treatment
Eisai and Biogen have announced that Eisai has shared new data for Leqembi (lecanemab-irmb) 100mg/mL …
FDA grants Alzheimer’s disease drug Leqembi full approval
Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai and US-based biotechnology company Biogen have announced that the US Food …
Angelini Pharma and JCR Pharmaceuticals partner to develop new epilepsy therapies
Angelini Pharma and JCR Pharmaceuticals have announced that they have entered into an exclusive global …
