Clinical research jobs providers UCB and Astellas have revealed that they are to join forces in order to work on the development and commercialisation of Cimzia.
The rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to be marketed in Japan under the terms of the agreement between the two companies.
Mark McDade, executive vice-president and chief operating officer at UCB, stated the clinical jobs provider is "pleased" to be working with Astellas on the project.
"This partnership reinforces both companies' joint commitment to improving and benefiting the lives of people in Japan living with serious immunological diseases," he said, adding the strength of Astellas' research and development, as well as its strong rheumatology sales and marketing infrastructure, will boost the optimisation of Cimzia.
Last week, UCB revealed that it has won approval from the US Food and Drug Administration for its epilepsy treatment Keppra to be used as an adjunctive therapy for partial onset seizures in infants and children.