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NEWS 2013
Nippon Shinyaku and Pfizer conclude exclusive sales promotion consignment contract regarding "Tramal® Capsule" and "NS-24" for the treatment of cancer pain and chronic pain
Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan; President: Shigenobu Maekawa; “Nippon Shinyaku”) and Pfizer Japan Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President: Ichiro Umeda; “Pfizer”) announced that the two companies concluded an exclusive sales promotion consignment contract in Japan for “Tramal® Capsule” (tramadol hydrochloride, “Tramal®”), a cancer pain and chronic pain treatment for which Nippon Shinyaku holds the marketing rights, as well as “NS-24” (once-daily tramadol hydrochloride), a new treatment under development by Nippon Shinyaku for the same indications.
According to this contract, Nippon Shinyaku will commission Pfizer with the exclusive sales promotion of “Tramal®” and “NS-24” (“tramadol preparations”). While Pfizer becomes a single sales promoter as of December 1, 2013, Nippon Shinyaku will continue to act as a distributor.
Tramal® is a nonnarcotic opioid analgesic which acts as μ-opioid receptor agonist and monoaminergic action (reuptake inhibition of noradrenaline and serotonin). Nippon Shinyaku launched it in Japan in September 2010.
“NS-24” is a long-acting oral preparation of tramadol hydrochloride. In Japan, Nippon Shinyaku has been conducting Phase 3 trials for the indications of cancer pain and chronic pain. Contingent upon Nippon Shinyaku obtaining regulatory approval, Pfizer will promote the product on its own as well as Tramal®.
Taking this opportunity, Nippon Shinyaku expects to see sales expansion as the Tramal® sales resource can now be diverted to other major products. With the addition of tramadol preparations to its portfolio, Pfizer will contribute more to the QOL of a larger number of patients by proactively providing additional products in the field of pain treatment, one of its focus areas.