Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb to end co-promotion of Erbitux
Merck Strengthens Presence as Leading Oncology Company by Taking Full Promotional Responsibility for Erbitux in Japan
Merck announced that Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb have agreed to transfer full responsibility for the promotion of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to Merck in Japan as of May 1, 2015.
"Expanding our oncology presence in Japan is of strategic importance to achieve our long term ambition to become a leading global player in oncology and immuno-oncology,” said Belén Garijo, Member of the Executive Board of Merck and CEO Healthcare. The transfer of promotional responsibilities for Erbitux in Japan further increases Merck’s presence in this important strategic market, where the company has already positioned Japan as its regional Research and Development hub for South East Asia.
“With this agreement, Japan will increasingly become a key focus country for us as it complements our Asia-centric Research and Development strategies. As a result, we plan to work diligently to develop therapies that best suit the unmet need, and the epidemiological profiles of Asian patient populations,” said Elcin Ergun, Head of Global Commercial at Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck.
Erbitux was launched in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb in Japan in September 2008 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, followed by an additional indication for the treatment of head and neck cancer, approved in December 2012.
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