EISAI ACQUIRES FOUR ONCOLOGY PRODUCTS

Japanese drugmaker Eisai's U.S. subsidiary has completed the acquisition of four oncology products from Ligand Pharmaceuticals. In the agreement, Eisai obtained exclusive global rights to Ontak (denileukin diftitox), Targretin (bexarotene) capsules, Targretin (bexarotene) gel 1 percent and Panretin (alitretinoin) gel 0.1 percent.

In the U.S., Eisai assumed product distribution responsibilities as of Oct. 25. In addition, Eisai is offering some Ligand employees employment.

Oncology is one of Eisai's long-standing therapeutic areas of focus, supporting the company's human mission to satisfy unmet medical needs, according to the company. The acquisition of these four products will help serve to establish Eisai's oncology business as the company prepares for the introduction of its own pipeline products.

The company began marketing its products in the United States in 1997, and it is now the 19th ranked pharmaceutical company in the U.S., based on retail sales, according to Eisai.