Baker McKenzie advised Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (“MTPC”), a member of the Mitsubishi Chemical Group, on the conclusion of an agreement with Ethypharm S.A.S. (“Ethypharm”) for the sale and transfer of the antithrombin drug Argatroban business in Europe.
Baker McKenzie advised MTPC on all legal aspects of the transaction.
“We were able to support our client in realigning its European strategy in the field of pharmaceutical supply,” comments Dr. Thilo Raepple, one of the lead partners in the transaction at Baker McKenzie.
MTPC is a research-oriented, internationally active pharmaceutical company with Japanese roots. In Europe, the English MTPC subsidiary Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Europe Ltd (“MTPE”) and its German subsidiary Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma GmbH (“MTPD”) were actively involved in the marketing and sale of Argatroban. Argatroban is an antithrombin agent developed by MTPC for the treatment of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II, a serious disease that carries the risk of fatal thromboembolic complications. In Europe, MTPC received the first marketing authorization for Argatroban in Sweden in 2004. The product is currently available in 13 countries, including Germany, the UK, France, Spain and Italy.
Ethypharm is an international pharmaceutical company based in France. It employs around 1,700 people and has production sites in France, the UK, Spain and China. The acquisition of the Argatroban business is intended to strengthen the portfolio of essential medicines.
Baker McKenzie’s Corporate/M&A and Life Sciences teams regularly advise pharmaceutical companies, financial investors, strategic investors and biotechnology companies on national and international transactions in the life sciences sector. Most recently, Baker McKenzie advised EQT Life Sciences on a series B2 financing of Tubulis GmbH, Ariceum Therapeutics on the acquisition of the English biotechnology company Theragnostics Ltd, Allecra Therapeutics on an exclusive license and supply agreement with ADVANZ PHARMA and MODAG on a strategic collaboration with Teva and Chord Therapeutics on its sale to Merck KGaA.
