Eisai and Purdue Pharma to collaborate on development and marketing of E 2006 (lemborexant), a treatment for insomnia

The US subsidiary of Eisai and Purdue Pharma have entered into a worldwide collaboration agreement for the development and commercialisation of Eisai's clinical candidate lemborexant (development code : E 2006), a dual orexin receptor antagonist entering Phase III clinical development for the treatment of insomnia.

Under the terms of the agreement, Eisai Inc. and Purdue Pharma will share the costs of lemborexant global clinical studies. While the potential indication for the product candidate is for the treatment of insomnia, the companies may also seek to develop other indications in the future. The two companies will form a joint steering committee to manage development and pursue marketing authorizations for lemborexant worldwide. Once approved, Eisai and Purdue Pharma will co-promote the product and share co-promotion costs and profits in the United States and other territories, which may include the European Union, China, Japan and Canada. Eisai Inc. will receive an upfront payment from Purdue Pharma, and is also eligible to receive certain other milestone payments that are contingent upon achieving regulatory approval and certain commercial milestones.