OREANDA-NEWS. July 04, 2011. GlaxoSmithKline K.K. (President: Philippe Fauchet; Head Office: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as GSK) and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (President: Joji Nakayama; Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; hereinafter referred to as Daiichi Sankyo) announce that the companies have reached an agreement for the co-promotion in Japan of Rotarix®, GSK’s vaccine to prevent rota-virus gastroenteritis in infants (hereinafter referred to as “agreement”).

GSK received approval from the MHLW to market Rotarix in Japan on July 1 2011. Rotarix oral liquid formulation is the first vaccine to be approved in Japan for infants to prevent gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus, for which only symptomatic treatment was available until now. Vaccination with Rotarix completes with 2 oral doses only.

Awareness in Japan on the importance of preventive healthcare is increasing. Both companies wish that by joining hands, Daiichi Sankyo, one of the established players in the Japanese vaccines field with ample know-how and experience, and GSK, a global leader in the creation of innovative vaccines, can help alleviate the concern and burden of parents by delivering the vaccine for prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis for which only symptomatic treatment was available.

Through this agreement, both companies aim to increase the awareness for the prevention of rotavirus gastroenteritis by use of the vaccine.