NOVARTIS TO DEVELOP KYORIN'S IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT DRUG

Kyorin Pharmaceutical has granted a global license to Novartis to develop and market its immunosuppressant drug KRP-203, in an effort to speed up the launch of the drug. Under the agreement, Novartis will have an exclusive license to develop and sell the drug worldwide for use in treating organ transplant patients. The drug is still at the preclinical stage in Japan.

Novartis will also have the exclusive right to develop and sell the drug for use in treating sufferers of autoimmune and other diseases everywhere except Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan.