Eisai acquires four oncology drugs

Eisai has revealed it has acquired four oncology products from Ligand in a deal worth $205 million (109 million pounds).

Under the terms of the agreement, Eisai will acquire Ontak, a treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, Panretin gel to treat Kaposi’s sarcoma, as well Targretin capsules and gel, also for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Also, some Ligand employees will be offered a transfer to Eisai, which described the move as the latest in its “dramatic leap plan” to establish the company’s foothold in the global oncology market, reflected by the recent investment in research and development and marketing.

Lonnel Coats, Eisai’s president and chief operating officer, stated: “We believe that Eisai has a promising future in oncology and that the acquisition of these products, as well as the valuable expertise and experience of those Ligand personnel to whom employment will be offered, is a well-planned approach to market entry.”

“In addition, our strategic focus in oncology helps fulfil our human health care mission to satisfy unmet medical needs and increase benefits to patients and their families,” he added.

Eisai recently expressed its dismay for a recent decision from NICE not to allow acetylcholinesterase inhibitors to be made available on the NHS to treat patients with newly-diagnosed mild Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr Paul Hooper, Eisai UK’s managing director, said it was “disgraceful” that NICE employed economic models to judge the cost effectiveness of drugs without making them available for scrutiny by third parties.

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