National Cancer Center Japan and Maruho Enter License Agreement and Research Collaboration Agreement for a Novel Analgesic for Stomatitis in Cancer Treatment

National Cancer Center Japan and Maruho Enter License Agreement and Research Collaboration Agreement for a Novel Analgesic for Stomatitis in Cancer Treatment

October 1, 2018
National Cancer Center Japan
Maruho Co., Ltd.

in  Japanese

Tokyo and Osaka (Japan), September 28, 2018 – National Cancer Center Japan (“NCC”, Tokyo, Japan, President: Hitoshi Nakagama) and Maruho Co., Ltd. (“Maruho”, Head Office: Osaka, Japan, President and CEO: Koichi Takagi) announced that they have entered into a worldwide license agreement with exclusive rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize a novel analgesic for stomatitis in cancer treatment (hereinafter “the compound”) and an agreement for the joint development of the compound.

During treatment of cancer with anticancer drugs and radiotherapy etc., patients often have a wide range of stomatitis, which induces severe pain and limits fundamental life behaviors such as "eating, drinking and talking".
For patients suffering from stomatitis due to cancer treatment, treatments such as lidocaine gargle are used to relieve pain. In addition to the perception of pain, lidocaine blocks all sensory nerves and perception of taste and texture is also suppressed. This affects a patient's quality of life and there is a need for a new pain reliever.

The compound was discovered by the NCC Division of Cancer Pathophysiology (Chief: Yasuhito Uezono) supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) Project Promoting Support for Drug Discovery (The iD3 Booster), as a treatment for refractory stomatitis caused by anticancer drugs and radiotherapy etc. From the results of preclinical trials, the compound is expected to maintain the perception of taste and texture with long-acting pain relief.

From now on, NCC will conduct basic research with Maruho to expand the possibility of the clinical application of this compound not only at the NCC Research Institute, but also at the Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, Division of Supportive Care Research and also at the NCC Hospital Supportive Care Development Center. After this, Maruho will promote clinical studies of the compound and both NCC and Maruho will cooperate in the development of a novel analgesic using the compound as an active ingredient.

NCC and Maruho came to this agreement because Maruho's intention to plan and promote collaboration with academia matched with NCC which is a medical institution leading in cancer treatment and research in Japan.

NCC and Maruho will continue to contribute to the improvement of quality of life in cancer patients and their families by providing new therapeutic treatment options.

About National Cancer Center Japan (NCC)

The National Cancer Research Center Japan was established in 1962 and is a medical institution leading cancer treatment and research in Japan.
Actively involved in doctor-led clinical trials and clinical research, NCC has extensive research results leading to drug discovery.

About Maruho

Maruho Co., Ltd. has its headquarters in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,459 employees (as of the end of September 2017), and net sales were approximately 79.95 billion yen in its 2017 fiscal year. Pursuing its long-term corporate vision of “Excellence in Dermatology,” Maruho is striving to improve the health and quality of life of people all over the world.
For more information, please visit www.maruho.co.jp/english(Link to External Site.)

Contact Information

National Cancer Center Japan
Strategic Planning Bureau, Public Relations Planning Office
Phone:03-3542-2511
Fax:03-3542-2545
Email:ncc-admin●ncc.go.jp(Please replace ● to @.)

Maruho Co., Ltd. Corporate Communications Dept.
Phone:06-6371-8831
Fax:06-6371-8679
Email:kouhou●mii.maruho.co.jp(Please replace ● to @.)