Daiichi Sankyo and Merck Sharp and Dohme agree Lixiana sales alliance

Daiichi Sankyo has announced a new commercialisation agreement with Merck Sharp and Dohme to support the sale of Lixiana in Europe.

Exclusive rights have been granted to Merck Sharp and Dohme to market the oral once-daily anticoagulant in 13 northern and central eastern European countries where Daiichi Sankyo currently has no affiliated companies.

This agreement will contribute significantly to the growth of Daiichi Sankyo's novel oral anticoagulant in Europe, with sales to proceed as soon as Merck completes its launch preparations.

Lixiana received European regulatory approval in June 2015 for the treatment of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, as well as for the treatment and prevention of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.

Jan Van Ruymbeke, chief executive officer of Daiichi Sankyo in Europe, said: "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 novel oral anticoagulant market."

The drug is already available in the UK, Ireland, South Korea, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, the US and Japan.