Daiichi Sankyo Launches Once-Daily LIXIANA Sales Alliance in Europe

- TOKYO, February 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) today announced that its European subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Group (headquartered in Munich, Germany; hereafter, DSE), has granted exclusive rights to Merck & Co, Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the US and Canada (hereafter, MSD) to market the oral, once-daily anti-coagulant, LIXIANA® (edoxaban), in 13 European countries: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Sweden. DSE currently has no affiliated companies in these countries, so this agreement will contribute significantly to the growth of edoxaban in Europe. The aforementioned 13 countries are subject to the marketing authorization of the oral, once-daily anti-coagulant edoxaban which was obtained from the European Commission last June. Sales will proceed as soon as MSD completes launch preparations. "Following the successful launches of the oral, once-daily edoxaban by Daiichi Sankyo in a number of European markets, we are extremely happy about the agreement with MSD which makes edoxaban now also accessible to patients in Northern and Central Eastern Europe", says Jan Van Ruymbeke, CEO Daiichi Sankyo Europe, "and we believe having one of the biggest pharma companies in the world as our partner is a vote of confidence in edoxaban's potential in the NOAC market." About Edoxaban   Edoxaban is an oral, once-daily, direct factor Xa (pronounced "Ten A") inhibitor. Factor Xa is one of the key components responsible for blood clotting, so inhibiting this makes the blood thin and less prone to clotting. Edoxaban received EU approval in June 2015 for the prevention of stroke and SE in adult patients with NVAF with one or more risk factors, such as congestive heart failure, hypertension, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA), as well as for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), and prevention of recurrent DVT and PE in adults. Edoxaban is currently marketed in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Switzerland, the US and Japan. In other countries, regulatory review is ongoing. About Daiichi Sankyo    Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo and its 17,000 employees around the world draw upon a rich legacy of innovation and a robust pipeline of promising new medicines to help people. In addition to its strong portfolio of medicines for hypertension, dyslipidemia, bacterial infections, and thrombotic disorders, the Group's research and development is focused on bringing forth novel therapies in cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, pain management, and oncology, including biologics. For more information, please visit: http://www.daiichi-sankyo.eu. Forward-looking statements    This press release contains forward-looking statements and information about future developments in the sector, and the legal and business conditions of DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. Such forward-looking statements are uncertain and are subject at all times to the risks of change, particularly to the usual risks faced by a global pharmaceutical company, including the impact of the prices for products and raw materials, medication safety, changes in exchange rates, government regulations, employee relations, taxes, political instability and terrorism as well as the results of independent demands and governmental inquiries that affect the affairs of the company. All forward-looking statements contained in this release hold true as of the date of publication. They do not represent any guarantee of future performance. Actual events and developments could differ materially from the forward-looking statements that are explicitly expressed or implied in these statements. DAIICHI SANKYO Co., Ltd. assume no responsibility for the updating of such forward-looking statements about future developments of the sector, legal and business conditions and the company. ContactChristina Werthner (Europe) Daiichi Sankyo Europe GmbH Head of Corp. Communications +49-(89)-7808442press@daiichi-sankyo.eu