Japanese Ono Pharmaceutical Transfers Clinical Trial Division to U.S.

TOKYO - Beginning May 1, Ono Pharmaceuticals will transfer its division for coordination of clinical studies in Japan, the U.S. and Europe, to its Lawrenceville, New Jersey wholly-owned subsidiary. Ono's division for promotion of tie-ups with venture businesses and universities will also move to Ono Pharma USA, the Osaka, Japan-based company announced April 21. The reorganization is aimed at facilitating the company's approval for new drugs in the U.S., and upgrading collaboration on clinical studies in its three key markets. Company public relations head Kinya Morimoto told PharmAsia News Ono has been planning for a number of years to launch the approval process for its drugs in the three markets from the U.S. "We have relaunched Ono Pharma USA as our base for global development," Morimoto said. The approval process lag time in Japan did not factor in Ono's decision to move. Rather, the company has set as first priority doing clinical studies and getting approval for drugs in buyer countries, Morimoto explained. "As our development project unfolds, we plan to shift personnel to the U.S.," he said