Shire, Shionogi Ink Co-Development Agreement for ADHD Drugs in Japan

Intent on tapping one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for ADHD treatments, Shire and Japan’s Shionogi & Co. agreed to co-develop and co-commercialize some of Shire’s medicines for the psychiatric behavioral disorder. Upon approval of medicines for Japan, Shionogi will pay a one-time fee and share costs with Shire.

Shire’s drugs for ADHD include Adderall XR, Intuniv, Vyvanse. All three recorded double-digit year-over-year sales gains during the third quarter, with the first two increasing by 50%, and Vyvanse, by 32%. Shionogi develops medicines for the central nervous system, among other therapeutic areas.

The agreement comes nearly three years after Shire opened a representative office in Japan, with the goal of stepping up commercialization of its pipeline products in Japan, the world’s second largest biopharmaceutical market.