Observers had been anticipating Alizyme PLC 's first out-licensing deal for most of 2003 but the firm's August agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. for Japanese rights to Alizyme's obesity treatment ATL-962 surprised some analysts [See Deal].
Alizyme/Takeda: Japan Deals Gather Steam
Alizyme's out-licensing pact with Takeda for Japanese rights to the UK biotech's Phase II anti-obesity compound ATL-962 underscores the practical and funding advantages of a Japanese-market deal as a precursor to negotiating US and European licenses. Opportunities for other European biotechs to do the same may increase: Takeda's willingness to develop a still relatively early-stage compound in a tricky development area highlights Japanese firms' particularly acute need for pipeline products.
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