Astellas Pharma has signed an exclusive license agreement with Maruho, an Osaka, Japan-based pharmaceutical company, for peficitinib, a Janus kinase inhibitor developed by Astellas in a topical formulation for treating skin disease. Under this agreement, Astellas gives Maruho worldwide, exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize the topical formulation of peficitinib for skin disease. In return, Maruho will pay Astellas an up-front payment at the time the agreement is executed and will also pay milestone payments upon the achievement of certain development milestones.

Astellas is further entitled to receive royalty payments on net sales of the product developed by Maruho. Maruho will conduct further development, production, and commercialization alone and bear all costs associated. All rights other than those for topical formulations for skin diseases are retained by Astellas. Astellas will continue development of peficitinib for immunology indications, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Source: Astellas