Japan, October 26, 2009 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”; headquarters: Tokyo; President and CEO: Masafumi Nogimori) today announced that it has decided to terminate the development of ASK8007 (development code), anti-human osteopontin antibody for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It was co-developed with Chemo-Sero-Therapeutic Research Institute (“KAKETSUKEN”; headquarters: Kumamoto, Kumamoto Prefecture).
Astellas and Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. (headquarters: Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture) concluded a worldwide licensing agreement which granted Astellas the exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and market anti-human osteopontin antibodies, for therapeutic use in March 2006.
Astellas and KAKETSUKEN carried out Phase I for ASK8007 for RA; however, have concluded terminating the development for the field of RA by evaluating the result of the study comprehensively. Astellas is now considering a possible application of it to other indications than RA.
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