Eisai and Chugai Terminate Inhibace Joint Marketing Deal

Medium-sized drugmaker Eisai has transferred the marketing rights for the Inhibace angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor to fellow Japanese producer Chugai Pharmaceutical. From April 1, Chugai will assume sole Japanese marketing rights on the product, an orally administered once-daily treatment indicated for hypertension.

Chugai's assumption of sole rights on the drug follows the termination of a prior agreement between the two companies. The original arrangement, signed in November 1990, envisaged both companies marketing the drug through two channels and under a single brand, but sole rights were transferred to Eisai in January 1995. Inhibace (cilazapril) is produced by Swiss drug major Roche, of which Chugai is a Japanese affiliate.