Tillotts Pharma AG (“Tillotts”), part of the Japanese Zeria Group, and A. Menarini International Trading (Wuhan) Co. Ltd. (“Menarini”), a member of the Italian A. Menarini Group, on 28 October 2019, announced an agreement for the distribution and marketing of Tillotts’ Asacol^® product range in the People’s Republic of China.

Under the terms of the agreement, Menarini will be Tillotts’ exclusive and long-term partner in China with the marketing authorization to sell and promote Asacol^®, a first-line treatment for mild to moderate ulcerative colitis (UC). This agreement demonstrates Tillotts’ continuous commitment to make Asacol^® available to patients suffering from Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) all over the world.

The agreement is strategically important for both Tillotts and Menarini due to the steadily increasing number of IBD patients in China. China has among the highest number of IBD cases in Asia with a two- to three-fold increase in incidence in the past decade. The introduction of this high strength Mesalazine tablet formulation to the Chinese market is expected to optimize the therapeutic options for IBD in China.

“An important aspect of our Vision 2030 is to expand our geographic presence in strategic important markets through carefully selected partnerships. We have long been investigating the possibilities in China and we are excited to be able to enter this agreement, to start the collaboration and to deliver new treatment opportunities to the Chinese patients,” said Mattias Norrman, Chief Operations Officer at Tillotts. “With Menarini as a competent partner for the Chinese market, we are convinced to be able to improve the lives of Chinese IBD patients.”

Dong Minsheng, General Manager of Menarini China commented, “Menarini is passionate and committed to the China market, and to improve the lives of Chinese patients suffering from major chronic illnesses like IBD. This partnership with Tillotts is a positive development for Chinese IBD patients and complements our ever-growing portfolio. With our strong gastrointestinal track record and wide network of key opinion leaders, we look forward to delivering the Asacol^® product range to Chinese patients, striving towards ‘Healthy China 2030’.”