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Japan's population is aging rapidly. Likewise, the global demand for symptomatic drugs to slow down the progression of neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's is also increasing. Sanochemia, based in Vienna, recognizes this need and sees great potential for its products in the Japanese market.
"Sanochemia has synthesized a molecule called Galantamine," says Dr Josef Böckmann, CEO of Sanochemia. "It was previously only available from botanical sources, namely from daffodils. In clinical trials, Galantamine has been proven to prevent the progression of Alzheimer's disease for up to three years if the drug is used in the early stages of the disease." With a worldwide patent on the drug until the year 2014, Sanochemia has licensed the process of Galantamine to Johnson & Johnson and Shire, who are marketing the compound worldwide. In particular, Böckmann sees great potential for the drug in Japan. Over 30 percent of the population of Japan is older than 65 years, so there is a huge demand for any kind of neuro-protective drug on the local market. "Today, if you are over 65 years of age, you have a 1 percent chance of acquiring a dementia," Böckman explains. "Due to the Japanese becoming more accepting of foreign innovation in pharmaceuticals, Japanese drugs companies have a keen interest in our activities. I think the product will be licensed in Japan in the next year or so." Böckmann is keen to increase the value of the company not only internally, but also through external growth. "We want to continue analysing external growth factors to see how we can grow through partnerships or collaborations," he says, "and this may lead to a merger or acquisition policy in the future." Asked about a possible cure for Alzheimer's, Böckmann is moderately optimistic: "We are not yet in a position to fully understand the complexities of the sequence of events which causes the disease, but I am convinced ongoing developments and further investment in research will one day lead to a cure."
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Josef Böckmann, chief executive officer of Sanochemia