TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--R-Tech Ueno (JASDAQ:4573)
This is to announce that R-Tech Ueno, Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, CEO and President: Yukihiko Mashima, hereinafter referred to as "R-Tech Ueno") has acquired the right to develop and commercialize DE-105 from Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka, CEO and President: Akira Kurokawa, hereinafter referred to as "Santen"). DE-105 is a treatment targeting at persistent corneal epithelial defects that Santen has been developing.
By acquisition of this right, R-Tech Ueno undertakes development of this agent towards commercialization going forward.
Moreover, we have also concluded an agreement with the inventor of DE-105, Professor Emeritus Teruo Nishida (Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi University) to invite him as medical advisor of R-Tech Ueno. This arrangement enables us to promote development taking advantage of our strength; collaboration between industry and academia.
Our president Yukihiko Mashima, MD & PhD, who is also an
ophthalmologist, made the following comments.
"DE-105 is an
ophthalmic solution of neurotrophic factor peptide, discovered and
developed from academia. It has been developed as a treatment for severe
persistent corneal epithelial defects caused by corneal sensory nerve
disorder (currently at the stage of Phase I clinical trial in the United
States and Phase II clinical trial in Japan). Damage to corneal sensory
nerves causes various corneal and conjunctival epithelial disorders
(persistent corneal epithelial defects, post-LASIK corneal epithelial
defects, severe dry eye, disorder associated with decreased corneal
sensitivity caused by long-term contact lens wear, etc.); however,
treatment utilizing existing ophthalmic solutions have not been
satisfying treatments so far. Going forward, we will develop this agent
as a curative treatment for various corneal and conjunctival epithelial
disorders targeting at not only persistent corneal epithelial defects
but also other diseases. The subject of acquisition this time not only
includes the patents of DE-105 application in the fields of
ophthalmology, dermatology, gastrointestinal medicine but also the right
of development overseas as well as in Japan. In the U.S, Phase I
clinical trial has already been completed, and we plan to actively
undertake global development in collaboration with Professor Emeritus
Teruo Nishida, who is the inventor of DE-105 and a global prominent
clinical scientist."
Potential effects of this arrangement on our business performance will be reflected in the earnings forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.
For full details of the press release, please visit:
http://www.rtechueno.com/en/investor/press/documents/150427_pr_en.pdf