Daiichi Sankyo to transfer marketing authorization rights for four diagnostic imaging agents in Japan to GE Healthcare

Tokyo, Japan and Chicago, US (June 25, 2019) – Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (Head Office: Chuo-ku Tokyo; hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) and GE Healthcare (Head Office: Chicago, US) have agreed¹ that, Daiichi Sankyo will return the exclusive development and marketing commercial rights in Japan for four approved diagnostic imaging agents² to GE Healthcare and transfer marketing authorization rights in Japan to GE Healthcare Pharma Limited³ (GE Healthcare Pharma).

The four diagnostic imaging agents to be transferred to GE Healthcare by Daiichi Sankyo are:
 

Product name
 

Product description
 

Omnipaque®
 

Nonionic X-ray contrast agent
 

Omniscan®
 

Linear, nonionic magnetic resonance imaging contrast agent
 

Visipaque®
 

Nonionic, iso-osmolar X-ray contrast agent
 

Sonazoid®
 

Ultrasound contrast agent
 

Daiichi Sankyo and GE Healthcare have collaborated since 1987 when they started sales of Omnipaque® in Japan. Throughout this transfer, both companies are committed to continue providing reliable supply to medical facilities.


Based on this agreement, Daiichi Sankyo and GE Healthcare will closely collaborate on the transfer of marketing authorization rights which is expected to be completed in March 2020. GE Healthcare Pharma will then be responsible for all aspects of commercialization, regulatory, medical and safety of these products in Japan. Daiichi Sankyo will continue to distribute the products to drug whole-sellers until March 2022, after which they will transfer these operations to GE Healthcare Pharma.


Through this transaction, GE Healthcare will strengthen its position as a leading medtech and diagnostics innovator at the center of an ecosystem striving for precision health. The company is working to improve quality of healthcare and bring more precise diagnoses for patients in Japan, the third largest contrast media market globally⁴. Daiichi Sankyo will be increasing investments in its oncology pipeline in order to realize its 2025 vision of becoming a “Global Pharma Innovator with competitive advantage in oncology,” providing new treatment options to more patients faster.


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1Subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions.
2Diagnostic contrast imaging agents are administered to patients prior to Computed Tomography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Ultrasound scans to improve quality of images that radiologists use to diagnose and monitor disease.
3GE Healthcare Pharma Limited is a newly established legal entity of GE Healthcare to run its Pharmaceutical Diagnostics business in Japan.
4CMIG/IMS (industry data).