Japanese pharma major Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited has launched Methylene Blue Injection 50mg for the treatment of methemoglobinemia in Japan.

Toxic methemoglobinemia is a toxic disorder in which the methemoglobin concentration in the blood is elevated due to various substances found in drugs, pesticides, etc., causing symptoms such as cyanosis, headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness.

Methylene Blue is one of the agents publicly offered for development by the Review Committee on Unapproved Drugs and Indications with High Medical Needs, set up by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW).

Daiichi Sankyo acquired sole development and marketing rights for Japan from Provepharm SAS before developing Methylene Blue, and received a grant from the Pharmaceutical Development Support Centre for its development. As part of its CSR effort, Daiichi Sankyo is committed to making unapproved and off-label drugs available to patients who are waiting for them to be approved.