Eisai and Gilead Sign Agreement for Commercialization and Distribution of JAK1 Inhibitor Jyseleca (Filgotinib) in Asia

Eisai Co., Ltd. recently announced that it has signed a commercialization and distribution agreement for JYSELECA® (FILGOTINIB) in Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore) with Gilead Sciences. FILGOTINIB is an oral JAK kinase inhibitor that preferentially inhibits JAK1, with indications including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ulcerative colitis, and Crohn's disease. In December 2019, Eisai signed a cooperation agreement with Gilead Sciences' Japanese subsidiary, Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Headquarters: Tokyo), to distribute and co-promote FILGOTINIB in Japan.

Under the terms of the new agreement, Eisai will obtain exclusive sales rights for FILGOTINIB in South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore from Gilead Sciences. Gilead has received approval for treating RA in Taiwan and has applied for approval in South Korea to use FILGOTINIB for treating RA. After obtaining approval, Eisai will take over the production and sales license of FILGOTINIB in South Korea and Taiwan from Gilead. Meanwhile, Eisai will apply for approval of FILGOTINIB in Hong Kong and Singapore. According to this agreement, Eisai will pay Gilead an upfront contract payment as well as regulatory and sales milestone payments.

FILGOTINIB is a novel, once-daily, oral JAK kinase inhibitor that preferentially inhibits JAK1. In Japan, FILGOTINIB has been approved for use in RA patients who respond inadequately to conventional therapies (including the prevention of structural joint damage). In April 2021, Gilead Sciences, Inc. submitted an additional indication for FILGOTINIB for the treatment of patients with moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis.