Reports have emerged that Otsuka Holdings has launched an IgA nephropathy treatment in the US, pursuing a strategy of gaining an early lead with a new drug that targets the underlying cause while acquiring and partnering with biotech ventures to avoid the patent cliff.
Otsuka Holdings is attracting attention for developments involving its IgA nephropathy treatment, including moves surrounding its launch in the US market. IgA nephropathy is an autoimmune disease in which kidney function declines due to abnormalities in the immune system, and research and development in the field is accelerating worldwide.
The disease progresses as IgA deposits in the glomeruli of the kidneys. It is designated as an intractable disease in Japan, where treatment currently focuses mainly on symptomatic therapies that suppress inflammation. The global patient population is estimated at approximately 200,000 to 300,000, while Japan is said to have several thousand patients.
Otsuka Holdings is reported to have brought a drug aimed at treating the underlying cause to market ahead of other companies. Novartis, Japanese biotech ventures, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and Chugai Pharmaceutical are among those cited as competitors, intensifying competition in the IgA nephropathy field.
The article points to moves to acquire and partner with biotech ventures as a strategy for avoiding the patent cliff. These efforts are viewed as part of Otsuka Holdings’ drive to preserve the advantages of a new drug that targets the underlying cause.