Eisai announces acquisition of AkaRx

Eisai has revealed its intentions to acquire the biopharmaceutical company AkaRX.

The handover, which will cost Eisai a total of $255 million (158.85 million pounds), will see AkaRx become a subsidiary of Eisai.

It is expected to be completed on or before January 8th, 2010.

As part of the acquisition, Eisai will also gain the rights to develop, market and manufacture AKR-501 ? AkaRx’s therapeutic treatment for thrombocytopenia.

AKR-501, a pharmacological agonist of the receptors of thrombopoietin, provokes the stimulation of platelet production and is currently undergoing trials examining its effectiveness to treat idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP).

Eisai has also revealed its intentions to explore AKR-501’s potential as a treatment for cancer chemotherapy induced thrombocytopenia.

In other Eisai news, the organisation introduced a new product to the pharmaceutical market earlier this month – Aricept in oral jelly form.

The treatment, which is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, was granted marketing authorisation on July 13th 2009.