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
LMR by IFF Inaugurates New Experimental Field in Grasse28.5.2026 11:00:00 CEST | Press release
Furthering IFF’s leadership in natural ingredients for perfumery. LMR Naturals by IFF—a global leader in natural ingredients for perfumery, cosmetics and flavors—today inaugurated its new experimental field, Domaine des Naturels LMR. The field is dedicated to advancing research in natural ingredients, preserving Grasse’s agricultural heritage and expanding education in naturals. The inauguration, attended by Grasse Mayor Jérôme Viaud, a long-standing supporter of the perfume industry, underscores IFF and LMR’s ongoing commitment to the region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527694524/en/ At Domaine des Naturels LMR, R&D experts research new natural species, variety breeding, cultivation methods and production techniques. “This inauguration reflects over two decades of continuous investment in Grasse and in naturals,” said Ana Paula Mendonça, president, Scent, IFF. “With Domaine des Naturels LMR, we are bri
Reply Expands Prebuilt AI Apps With New Production-Ready Applications to Accelerate Enterprise AI Adoption28.5.2026 10:00:00 CEST | Press release
Reply[EXM, STAR: REY] today released a new set of Prebuilt AI Apps: ready-to-use agentic applications designed to drive efficiency and business growth by accelerating the integration of AI into enterprise processes. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260528283268/en/ Prebuilt AI Apps are ready-to-use agentic applications designed to accelerate the integration of AI into enterprise processes, driving efficiency and supporting business growth. In developing the Prebuilt AI Apps, Reply has identified key areas within enterprise processes where AI can create tangible operational value and turned them intoreusable assets, combining deep process knowledge, curated datasets, domain ontologies and reusable agentic flows in robust, secure and production-ready solutions. Each application can be further customised and extended through integration with enterprise systems, internal data and knowledge bases, while maintaining
Klarna Partners With Arrive for Parking in 15 Markets28.5.2026 09:56:00 CEST | Press release
Klarna, the global digital bank and flexible payments provider, has partnered with Arrive, a leading global mobility platform, to bring seamless and flexible payment options to millions of consumers across 15 markets. Through the partnership, drivers will be able to pay for parking using Klarna’s Pay in Full, which will be available directly in Arrive’s EasyPark app, ensuring payments can be made instantly. This provides consumers with more flexibility and control over their everyday spending, and builds on Klarna's growing presence in everyday spending and saving, where consumers increasingly use Klarna for recurring, low-friction purchases alongside savings products like Klarna Balance. Arrive, formerly EasyPark Group, operates one of the world’s largest digital parking networks, facilitating high frequency payments across millions of spots in more than 20,000 cities and 90 countries. By providing the digital infrastructure that helps individuals and decision-makers make smarter urba
Navan Unlocks Savings for Travelers with First SAS NDC Direct Connect28.5.2026 09:01:00 CEST | Press release
Direct connection gives travelers access to lower fares and streamlined post-booking services Navan (NASDAQ: NAVN), the global AI-powered business travel and expense platform, today announced a New Distribution Capability (NDC) integration with Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). By allowing the airline to share its fares, availability, and offers directly in real time, the integration provides an expanded portfolio of SAS fares and services to Navan customers. This makes Navan the first Travel Management Company (TMC) to access SAS NDC content via a direct connection, leveraging version 21.3 of the NDC API. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260528812727/en/ Direct connection gives travelers access to lower fares and streamlined post-booking services “Our Modern Airline Retailing journey is centered on delivering more relevant offers, greater transparency, and better value for travelers,” said Edward Fotheringham, VP S
KKR to Open New Office in Milan, Strengthening Long-Term Commitment to Italy28.5.2026 09:00:00 CEST | Press release
New office reflects KKR’s localisation strategy and opportunity in Italy’s evolving investment landscape KKR, a leading global investment firm, today announced plans to open an office in Milan, further strengthening its long-term commitment to Italy and expanding its local presence in one of Europe’s largest economies. The office will support the firm’s investment activity across Private Equity, Real Assets, Credit and Insurance, while deepening client partnerships and advancing the continued development of KKR’s private wealth business in Italy. Italy has been an important market for KKR for over two decades, with over €10 billion of capital deployed since 2005 across Private Equity, Real Assets and Credit. The firm’s investments include FiberCop, Europe’s first wholesale-only, open-access fibre network, Enilive, a key player in advancing Italy’s energy transition, and CMC, a sustainable packaging leader using robotics to drive innovation. These investments reflect KKR’s focus on part
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