Pharmaceuticals company Vifor Pharma revealed on Monday that it has entered into a partnership with Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc, part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to jointly commercialize INVOKANA (canagliflozin) in the US.

Both companies have agreed not to disclose the financial terms of the agreement.

INVOKANA is a diabetic medicine that is used to treat diabetic kidney disease (DKD) which causes a high risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular disease. The treatment is indicated to slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy (also known as DKD) and reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease.

Vifor Pharma said its dedicated nephrology salesforce in the US will promote INVOKANA to nephrologists. This salesforce will be complemented by Janssen's existing sales representatives and institutional representatives who have expertise in addressing internists, diabetologists, endocrinologists and cardiologists. The field medical teams of both companies will also be supporting this collaboration. Janssen will continue to lead marketing for INVOKANA.

The company added that INVOKANA is already available in the US to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events and improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Janssen submitted the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for INVOKANA to treat diabetic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following the Phase 3 CREDENCE (canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes with Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation) study. This study was stopped early because it met the pre specified criteria for efficacy and demonstrated a 30% reduction in the risk of the primary composite endpoint, comprising end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), doubling of serum creatinine and renal or cardiovascular death. The new indication was approved by the FDA on 30 September 2019.