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Morrison & Foerster has one of the world’s premier life science practices combining exceptional expertise and experience.  The Tokyo office represents some of the leading participants in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device and equipment industries in Japan.

Examples of recent life sciences transactions on which the office has advised include:

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Sankyo’s merger with Daiichi (2006).  We represented Sankyo in international aspects of its multi-billion dollar merger with Daiichi Pharmaceutical.  The merger integrated Japan's 3rd and 7th largest pharmaceutical companies to create Daiichi Sankyo, Japan's second largest pharmaceutical company. 
• Fujisawa’s merger with Yamanouchi (2005).  We represented Fujisawa Pharmaceutical in international aspects of its $7.6 billion merger with Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical.  The merger integrated Japan’s 2nd and 11th largest pharmaceutical companies to create Astellas, one of Japan's three largest pharmaceutical companies, and was the largest pharmaceutical merger in Japan to date at closing. 
• Omron Healthcare's acquisition of Colin Medical Technology (2005).  We are representing Omron Healthcare,  a subsidiary of Omron Corp., in its proposed acquisition of all of the shares of Colin Medical from The Carlyle Group.  Colin Medical is a leading manufacturer of blood pressure and vital signs monitors for medical professionals and related equipment. 
• Zeon’s sale of Biomune animal vaccine business (2005).  We represented Zeon in its sale of its recombinant and conventional animal vaccine U.S. subsidiary, Biomune, to Ceva Santé Animale, an animal health company based in France.
• Terumo’s acquisition of Mission Medical (2005).  We represented Terumo Corporation in its acquisition of the remaining 78% of the outstanding shares of Mission Medical Inc. that Terumo did not already own.
• Kirin’s Acquisition of Hematech LLC (2005).  We represented Kirin Brewery in its $45 million acquisition of Hematech, Kirin’s US collaboration partner for the development of human antibodies. 

Development, Licensing, and Manufacturing

• Asahi Kasei collaboration and license agreement (2005).  We represented Asahi Kasei in its proposed collaboration and license agreement with respect to proprietary sleep hypnotic compounds.
• Atrix Laboratories supply agreement with Sosei (2004).  We represented Atrix Laboratories in its manufacturing and supply agreement and license agreement with Sosei Co., Ltd.
• Chiron Corporation research agreement with Taisho (2001).  We represented Chiron Corporation in its negotiation of a research agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., for certain drug compounds.
• Kaken Pharmaceutical global collaboration agreement with Elitra (2003).  We represented Kaken Pharmaceutical in its global collaboration agreement with Elitra Pharmaceuticals relating to the research, development and commercialization of small molecule antifungal agents.
• Kaken Pharmaceutical consulting services agreement with Parexel (2004).  We represented Kaken Pharmaceutical in its consulting services agreement with Parexel International relating to marketing authorizations in the European Union and the United States.
• Kawasumi Laboratories’ development and supply agreement with RadioMed (2005).  We represented Kawasumi Laboratories in its prostate brachytherapy development and supply agreement with RadioMed.
• Kirin Brewery’s license agreement with Human Genome Sciences (2004). We represented Kirin Brewery in its license agreement with Human Genome Sciences relating to the development and marketing of an anti-cancer drug in Asia.
• Kirin Brewery’s development and marketing agreement with Corixa (2002).  We represented Kirin Brewery in its development and marketing agreement with Corixa Corporation relating to an anti cancer vaccine.
• Kirin Brewery’s clinical research and license agreements with Rockefeller University and others (2002).  We represented Kirin Brewery in its clinical research agreement with Rockefeller University and its patent license with Indiana University’s Advanced Research & Technology Institute and the Ludwig Maximilians-Universitat Munich for certain growth factor technologies.
• Sankyo’s alliance with a major U.S. pharmaceutical company  (2003).  We represented Sankyo Co. in an alliance with a major U.S. pharmaceutical company, including the spin-off of that company’s R&D subsidiary, an investment by Sankyo in that R&D subsidiary, and a series of R&D agreements between Sankyo and that R&D subsidiary for the development of new diabetes compounds in one of Sankyo’s strategic focus areas.
• Kowa’s license agreement with BioStratum (2002).  We represented Kowa in its license agreement with BioStratum relating to the manufacture and sale of pyridoxamine in Japan, Taiwan, Korea and China.
• Maruishi Pharmaceuticals’ supply agreements with Baxter and others.  We represented Maruishi Pharmaceuticals in global manufacturing, supply and distribution arrangements with regard to Sevoflurane, a leading inhalant anesthesia, including its license agreement with Baxter International, its supply and license agreement with Abbott Laboratories and its license and manufacturing agreement with Central Glass.
• Mochida Pharmaceutical’s joint development agreement with 3M (2002).  We represented Mochida Pharmaceutical in its joint development agreement with 3M relating to certain imiquimod topical formulations for the Japanese market.
• Fujitsu Kyushu Systems Engineering’s investment in Gene Networks (2003).  We represented Fujitsu Kyushu Systems Engineering in its investment in Gene Networks, Inc., which is engaged in gene network analysis and discovery.