Daiichi Sankyo enters new joint vaccine venture

Daiichi Sankyo has created a new joint venture with the Kitasato Institute in order to develop new vaccine treatments for various conditions.

The two Japan-based organisations are to join together to create Kitasato Daiichi Sankyo Vaccine Co, which will focus on producing new drugs for both humans and animals utilising research technology from both companies.

This agreement is expected to be finalised last this year, with the resulting joint venture company to be incorporated and business to commence on April 1st 2011.

It represents the latest strengthening of the cooperative relationship between the two organisations, with Daiichi Sankyo expecting the move to allow it to make further inroads into the vaccines market.

“By combining Kitasato’s vast knowledge base … with Daiichi Sankyo’s advanced product planning capabilities, biotechnologies and drug delivery systems, the joint venture company will be able to develop more innovative vaccines,” the company explained.

Last month, Daiichi Sankyo posted new data from a clinical trial of its new drug edoxaban, demonstrating its effectiveness against venous thromboembolic events among surgery patients.