MERZ-PHARMACEUTICALS
29.6.2020 10:17:09 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
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
Great Britain Leads Europe’s FMCG Inflation as NIQ Launches New Inflation Barometer6.8.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
NIQ (NYSE: NIQ) today launches its new EU5 FMCG Inflation Barometer - a monthly tracker across five Western Europe markets – France, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain – designed to help retailers, manufacturers and the media understand how inflation is evolving across Europe’s largest grocery markets and how shoppers are responding. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260806579111/en/ EU5 CPG Inflation slows to +1.1% The first edition of the Barometer reveals that while inflation across Europe’s FMCG sector remains relatively contained overall, significant differences persist between countries. Key findings include: Great Britain recorded the highest FMCG inflation across the EU5 at +2.3%1, above the European average of +1.1%. France and Italy reported the lowest inflation at -0.4% and +0.6% retrospectively, highlighting the uneven inflationary landscape across Europe's major economies. The monthly Barometer
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS and Chile’s State-owned Copper Company CODELCO Launch a Study and Proof of Concept Aimed at Improving the Efficiency of Remote Copper Mine Operations Using IOWN® APN6.8.2026 06:30:00 CEST | Press release
NTT DOCOMO BUSINESS, Inc. (formerly NTT Communications Corporation) has launched a study and proof of concept jointly with Corporación Nacional del Cobre de Chile (CODELCO) to progress remote operations at CODELCO’s copper mines using an IOWN® All-Photonics Network (APN).1 This initiative is part of a research project commissioned by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.2 This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260806845222/en/ Conceptual Diagram of the Demonstration To address operational challenges faced by CODELCO’s copper mines, the initiative will connect a copper mine and a remote operations center—approximately 1,500 km apart—via an IOWN APN. It will assess the feasibility of remotely operating heavy machinery using high-capacity, low-latency communication links, enhancing monitoring operations through high-definition video, and implementing a remote operations model. 1. Background Chile is o
FPT Named an OpenAI Select Partner6.8.2026 02:00:00 CEST | Press release
Global IT corporation FPT today announced that it has been named an OpenAI Select Partner within the OpenAI Partner Network. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260805503787/en/ FPT Named an OpenAI Select Partner The OpenAI Partner Network is a global program for partners to build, sell, and deliver AI solutions with OpenAI. It brings together partners with deep industry expertise, delivery capabilities, and customer relationships while equipping them with resources, enablement, and support to help enterprises adopt OpenAI frontier models and products and turn them into measurable impact. As an OpenAI Select Partner, FPT will continue working with OpenAI to help organizations build, deploy, and scale AI solutions responsibly and effectively. This work will help organizations get more useful work from every token and stronger performance per dollar with GPT‑5.6, while using ChatGPT Work to turn ambitious goals into
U.S. FDA Approves Takeda’s ORZEYFUL™ (oveporexton), the First and Only Medicine to Treat the Underlying Cause of Narcolepsy Type 16.8.2026 00:10:00 CEST | Press release
Adults Taking ORZEYFUL Experienced Significant and Meaningful Improvements Across the Full Range of Symptoms of Narcolepsy Type 1 (NT1) in Clinical Trials Compared to Those on Placebo As a First-in-Class Orexin Treatment, ORZEYFUL has the Potential to Redefine NT1 Care Beyond Individual Symptoms Takeda is Advancing U.S. Launch Preparations and Expects to Make ORZEYFUL Available Following Completion of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Scheduling Process Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ORZEYFUL™ (oveporexton), an oral orexin receptor 2 (OX2R) agonist, for the treatment of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1, narcolepsy with cataplexy) in adults.* The persistent 24-hour nature of NT1 is driven by orexin deficiency and can severely impact people’s lives. As a first-in-class orexin treatment, ORZEYFUL is the only medicine indicated in the U.S. to treat the disease holistically rather than individual symptoms. “The FDA approval of OR
Compass Pathways Announces New Employee Inducement Grants Under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4)5.8.2026 22:30:00 CEST | Press release
Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS), a biotechnology company dedicated to unlocking urgently needed new treatment options in mental health care, announced today that Compass granted equity awards under the Compass Pathways plc 2026 Inducement Plan to fourteen newly hired non-executive employees. The equity awards were granted on August 3, 2026 and consisted of options to purchase an aggregate of 139,355 shares and restricted share units or, in the case of employees in the United Kingdom nominal cost options, covering an aggregate of 66,300 shares. The options have an exercise price per share equal to $11.25, the closing price of the Company’s American Depositary Shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on the grant date, and will vest over a four-year period with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the date of the grant and the remaining 75% vesting in equal monthly installments over the three-year period thereafter, subject to each employee’s continued employment. The restricted
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