Shionogi, Eli Lilly to develop antidepressant

TOKYO, Feb 2 (Reuters) - Japanese drug maker Shionogi and Co. Ltd. (4507.T: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it has agreed with Eli Lilly and Co.'s (LLY.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) local unit to jointly develop and market an antidepressant drug in Japan.

Duloxetine, whose global sales last year totalled $1.32 billion, is already used for the treatment of depression for adults in Europe, Latin America and the United States, the drug companies said in a statement.

The drug can also be used to treat diabetes pain.

Eli Lilly Japan spokeswoman Miyuki Watanabe said her company expects Japan's antidepressant market to grow 30 percent to 130 billion yen ($1.08 billion) by the time the drug is approved for sales in Japan around 2009.

Shionogi started developing duloxetine in 1992 after signing a license agreement with Eli Lilly which had created the drug in the United States.

Shionogi said it plans to file a new drug application for duloxetine in Japan sometime this year and would continue to solely develop it for the treatment of depression and then market it with Eli Lilly.

The drug is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials for antidepressant use.

For the treatment of pain related to diabetic peripheral neuropathy, Shionogi said it and Eli Lilly will work together on the development as well as marketing. For this use, the drug is now going through Phase II clinical trials.