Quick Links
You are about to leave www.astellas.com and enter a third-party website. Astellas is not responsible for the content or services on the third-party website.
Would you like to continue?
Astellas is committed to providing timely and accurate information about our business, science and products. This section offers global resources for investors, journalists and media professionals. News and resources from our local affiliates can be viewed in the Local news section. If you are not an investor or journalist, click here.
TOKYO, December 7, 2020 - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas” ) and Viatris Pharmaceuticals Japan Inc. (Country Manager: Sun-A Kim, “Viatris”) announced that the two companies have agreed to end the joint sales promotion (co-promotion) of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic "Celecox® Tablets 100mg, 200mg" (generic name: celecoxib, “Celecox”) manufactured and sold by Astellas and co-promoted by both companies in Japan on December 31, 2020.
In accordance with this agreement, Celecox promotion, which to date has been carried out jointly by both companies, will be conducted solely by Viatris as of January 1, 2021. Astellas will continue its distribution until the termination of the agreement on July 31, 2021, after which time Viatris will be the Marketing Anthorization Holder of Celecox.
In Japan, Celecox was launched for the indication of “relief of inflammation and pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis” in June 2007. Subsequently, “relief of inflammation and pain associated with lumbago, scapulohumeral periarthritis, cervico-omo-brachial syndrome, and tendinists / tendosynovitis” were approved as additional indications in June 2009. In December 2011, "anti-inflammatory / pain relief after surgery, trauma, and tooth extraction" were also approved as additional indications.
The impact of this transaction on Astellas’ financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2021 is expected to be minor.
Click below for a copy of the full press release
Follow us
