Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo has reported a remarkable fiscal year 2023, with revenues increasing by 25.3% to ¥1.602 trillion (USD 10.05 billion) for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2024. The growth was primarily driven by the success of its HER2-targeted antibody drug conjugate (ADC) Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) and the blood thinner Lixiana (edoxaban). The weakening of the Japanese yen also contributed significantly, adding approximately ¥66.8 billion (USD 420 million) to the company’s revenue.
Enhertu, co-promoted globally with UK-based AstraZeneca, saw sales climb to ¥395.9 billion (USD 2.48 billion), a year-on-year increase of ¥188.4 billion. When milestone payments from AstraZeneca are included, Daiichi’s revenues from Enhertu reached ¥449.2 billion (USD 2.82 billion). A recent milestone for Enhertu includes its approval by the US FDA in April 2024 as the first HER2-positive tumor agnostic drug, marking a significant expansion in its potential use.
Lixiana contributed ¥287.7 billion (USD 1.84 billion) to the company’s revenue, an increase of ¥43.8 billion from the previous year. Other positive developments include the approvals of Vanflyta (quizartinib) in the US, Japan, and Europe for the treatment of FLT3-ITD-mutated acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
In October 2023, Daiichi formed a potential USD 22 billion ADC-focused partnership with Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc. (MSD), to co-develop three molecules: the HER3-targeted fatritumab deruxtecan, the B7-H3-directed ifinatamab deruxtecan for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and the CDH6-directed raludotatug deruxtecan for ovarian cancer. This partnership is expected to accelerate the development of all three molecules.
Daiichi has filed a Biologics License Application (BLA) with the US FDA for patritumab deruxtecan for patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which was granted priority review status by the FDA in December 2023. Additionally, the TROP-2 targeted datopotamab deruxtecan, co-developed with AstraZeneca, was filed for US approval in February 2024 for the treatment of second-line locally advanced or metastatic nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Looking ahead, Daiichi is forecasting a 9.3% growth in overall company sales for the next fiscal year 2024.- Flcube.com
