MERZ-PHARMACEUTICALS
Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, a leading neurotoxin company and subsidiary of Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA, and Teijin Pharma Limited, the core company of the Teijin Group’s healthcare business, jointly announced today that Teijin Pharma has been granted approval by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) to market Xeomin ® (incobotulinumtoxinA) for intramuscular injection in 50, 100 or 200 units for the treatment of upper limb spasticity.
Xeomin ® is effective in treating peripheral cholinergic nerve endings by weakening the contraction of voluntary muscles, and it relieves muscle tone by inhibiting the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. The highly purified neurotoxin, the only active ingredient in Xeomin ® , is made by removing complexing proteins from botulinum toxin type A, which is produced by Clostridium botulinum, using purification technology developed by Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA. The lack of complexing proteins enables Xeomin ® to reduce the production of neutralizing antibodies capable of lowering efficacy.
Xeomin ® is being distributed by Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH in more than 70 countries to treat patients with upper limb spasticity, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, or hypersalivation. Teijin Pharma signed an exclusive license and co-development agreement for Xeomin ® in Japan with Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA in 2017. In August 2019, Teijin Pharma applied for marketing approval based on a significant improvement in the modified ashworth scale (MAS) score of the wrist flexion, which was observed in a phase-III clinical trial conducted by Merz in Japan.
Upper limb spasticity is a symptom of upper motor neuron syndrome, which is expressed mainly by increased muscle tone of upper limbs and the hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex as a sequela of stroke. The main symptoms are motor paralysis, hyperflexion, appearance of pathological reflexes, and sensory disturbances that complicate or impede activities in daily living.
Conventional treatment of upper limb spasticity includes physical rehabilitation and the use of oral muscle relaxants or neuromuscular blockers such as botulinum toxin type A. Injections of botulinum toxin type A are a Grade A recommendation in the Japanese Guidelines for the Management of Stroke 2015.
"At Merz Therapeutics, we do everything to bring better outcomes to more patients. Therefore, we are very proud of our partnership with Teijin to make Xeomin ® available to physicians and patients in Japan,” said Stefan Brinkmann, CEO Merz Therapeutics. “We are confident that this treatment option can help patients with upper limb spasticity in Japan to experience more good days and achieve their unique goals.”
“Teijin Pharma already provides various pharmaceuticals and medical devices that help to contribute to improving quality of life of patients suffering from musculoskeletal diseases,” said Ichiro Watanabe, president of Teijin Pharma Limited. “We, responding to demographic change and increased health consciousness, are launching effective new drugs and providing other solutions to realize more sustainable societies. Teijin Pharma continues to contribute to improving the quality of life (QOL) of patients by providing new treatment options for diseases with high unmet needs.”
About Xeomin®
Brand name |
Xeomin® 50 units for intramuscular injection Xeomin® 100 units for intramuscular injection Xeomin® 200 units for intramuscular injection |
Nonproprietary name |
incobotulinumtoxinA |
Dosage form |
Injection (vial) |
Indication |
Upper limb spasticity |
Dosage and administration |
In general, for adults, Xeomin® should be injected into multiple tonic muscles.* The maximum dose per administration is 400 units, however, the dose should be appropriately reduced to the minimum depending on the type and number of targeted tonic muscles. Repeated doses are permissible if the effect of a previous dose diminish. The dosing interval should be 12 weeks or longer, but may be shortened to 10 weeks depending on the symptoms.
*Tonic muscles: flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, flexor digitorum dorsi, flexor digitorum brevis, radial biceps, biceps brachii, brachial musculature, pronation of the pronator, flexor progenitor, flexor pollicis longus, adductor pollicis longus, flexor pollicis brevis/opposite thumb muscle, etc. |
Xeomin ® is the registered trademark of Merz Pharma GmbH & Co. KGaA.
About Merz Therapeutics
Merz Therapeutics, a business of Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH, is dedicated to improving the lives of patients around the world. With its relentless research, development, and culture of innovation, Merz Therapeutics strives to serve unmet patient needs and realize better outcomes. Merz Therapeutics seeks to address the unique needs of people who suffer from movement disorders, neurological conditions, liver disease, and other health conditions that severely impact patients’ quality of life. Merz Therapeutics is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany and is represented in more than 90 countries, with a North America affiliate based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH is part of the Merz Group, a privately held, family-owned company that has dedicated more than 110 years to developing innovations that meet patient and customer needs. Please visit www.merz.com .
About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan's first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions,” Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises more than 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 853.7 billion (USD 8.0 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,004.2 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2020.
Please visit www.teijin.com
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200629005235/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
MultiBank Group Confirms $MBG Token TGE Set for July 22, 202512.7.2025 11:14:00 CEST | Press release
MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution has officially announced that the Token Generation Event (TGE) for its highly anticipated $MBG Token will take place on July 22, 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250712404220/en/ MultiBank Group has officially announced that the Token Generation Event (TGE) for its highly anticipated $MBG Token will take place on July 22, 2025. This milestone will mark the full activation of the $MBG Token on the blockchain, enabling holders to view and manage their balances across supported platforms. Following the token minting, users will be able to trade $MBG via MultiBank.io, the Group’s regulated crypto exchange and Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized platform. The $MBG Token has garnered global attention for its rare combination of real-world utility, institutional backing, and strong deflationary mechanics. It is underpinned by $29 billi
Elegen and Nutcracker Therapeutics to Pilot First Fully Cell-Free Manufacturing Process for RNA-based Personalized Cancer Therapeutics11.7.2025 14:00:00 CEST | Press release
Fully cell-free process aims to further democratize personalized cancer therapeutic manufacturing with shorter turnaround times and negligible bioburden and endotoxin risks. Elegen, a global leader in next-generation DNA manufacturing, and Nutcracker Therapeutics, a global leader in next-generation RNA design and manufacturing, today announced the launch of a pilot program to demonstrate the industry’s first fully synthetic, cell-free manufacturing platform for RNA-based personalized cancer therapeutics (PCTs). The pilot marks another step toward making PCTs more accessible, timely, and scalable. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711152688/en/ As late-stage PCT clinical trials progress and therapy developers work to create the next generation of PCTs, the speed, reliability, scaling and cost of traditional production methods pose a major challenge. Specifically, the first step of DNA template production is hi
$MBG Token Pre-Sale Set for July 15 — Only 7 Million Tokens Available at $0.3511.7.2025 10:17:00 CEST | Press release
MultiBank Group, the world’s largest financial derivatives institution headquartered in Dubai, has confirmed that its highly anticipated $MBG Token pre-sale will go live on July 15, with demand expected to be intense. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711737311/en/ With only 7 million $MBG tokens up for grabs at an exclusive entry price of $0.35, this is a rare opportunity to secure early access to what many are calling the year’s most powerful utility asset. With only 7 million tokens up for grabs at an exclusive entry price of $0.35, this is a rare opportunity to secure early access to what many are calling the year’s most powerful utility asset. Early participants can join simultaneously on MultiBank.io, the Group’s regulated crypto exchange, and Uniswap, the world’s leading decentralized platform. Supported by $29 billion in real assets and powered by over $35 billion in daily turnover, $MBG is engineered
Live Story Raises €2.7 Million to Revolutionize the Digital Experience11.7.2025 10:05:00 CEST | Press release
With a round led by Vertis, the next-generation CMS platform accelerates its focus onAI, performance, and European expansion. Target: surpass €10M in recurring revenueby 2027. Live Story, the tech company founded by Stefano Mocellini, has closed a €2.7 million seed round led by Vertis, one of Italy’s leading early-growth venture capital firms. The funding will support the company’s international expansion and technological development, with a clear goal: to exceed €10 million in annual recurringrevenue by 2027. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250711335560/en/ “We invested in Live Story because it addresses one of the major inefficiencies in digital commerce: the slow and rigid management of visual and narrative content,” says Alessandro Pontari, Partner at Vertis SGR. “The platform helps brands drastically reduce their time-to-market through a visual CMS that integrates seamlessly with any tech stack. In a wor
With a Score of 84 out of 100, Sagemcom Is Awarded the EcoVadis Platinum Medal: a Prestigious Recognition of its CSR Commitment11.7.2025 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
Sagemcom Group is proud to announce that it has been awarded, for the third time, the Platinum Medal by EcoVadis, the highest distinction granted by the leading global platform for assessing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance. This medal places Sagemcom in the top 1% of companies evaluated worldwide, across all industries. With a score of 84 out of 100, Sagemcom reaffirms its position as a committed leader in ecological transition, business ethics, sustainable supply chain management, and social responsibility. “The EcoVadis Platinum Medal is more than just an award — it is the recognition of our collective efforts to embed sustainable development principles at the heart of our corporate strategy and culture,” says Sylvaine Couleur, Executive Vice President, CSR & Communication. “Achieving this level demonstrates that our commitments are tangible, impactful, and internationally recognized. This distinction strengthens our determination to further advance and expand our C
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom