DKSH Signs Agreement With Europe's Largest Biopharmaceutical Company to Drive Growth in Asia

BANGKOK, Aug. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- DKSH Business Unit Healthcare, a leading partner for healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Asia, will provide regulatory, distribution and logistics services for Actelion in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

The agreement initially covers Tracleer®, a prescription medicine indicated for patients with certain types of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pending product registration in Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore, the collaboration may be extended to also include Opsumit® (macitentan), an orally available endothelin receptor antagonist (ERA).

Opsumit has been available in the United States since November 2013 and is undergoing regulatory review in various other markets worldwide.

"In DKSH we found a reliable partner to grow our business in the fast growing Asian market. We are convinced of DKSH's commitment to the highest international quality and compliance standards across all operations. The convenience of having one regional point-of-contact with strong local regulatory expertise should simplify collaboration across multiple markets," said Simon Eade, Vice President Asia Pacific Region, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Australia Pty Ltd.

"DKSH is well-positioned to support Actelion's commercialization efforts in Asia by providing strong supply chain support and by guiding the company through the complex regulatory landscape. Working with DKSH allows Actelion to focus on its core competencies while setting up for future success in Asia," said Andrew Frye, Head of Business Healthcare, DKSH.

The agreement will strengthen DKSH's market position in Asia over time.

About Actelion Ltd.

Actelion Ltd. is a leading biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative drugs for diseases with significant unmet medical needs.

Actelion is a leader in the field of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Our portfolio of PAH treatments covers the spectrum of disease, from WHO Functional Class (FC) II through to FC IV, with oral, inhaled and intravenous medications. Although not available in all countries, Actelion has treatments approved by health authorities for a number of specialist diseases including Type 1 Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick type C disease, Digital Ulcers in patients suffering from systemic sclerosis, and mycosis fungoides type cutaneous T-cell lymphoma.

Founded in late 1997, with now over 2,400 dedicated professionals covering all key markets around the world including Europe, the US, Japan, China, Russia and Mexico, Actelion has its corporate headquarters in Allschwil /Basel, Switzerland.

Actelion shares are traded on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: ATLN) as part of the Swiss blue-chip index SMI (Swiss Market Index SMI®). All trademarks are legally protected.

About DKSH

DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets.

Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since March 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered inZurich. With 750 business locations in 35 countries - 720 of them in Asia - and 27,600 specialized staff, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 9.8 billion in 2014.

In 2015, DKSH celebrates its 150th anniversary. With strong Swiss heritage, the company has a long tradition of doing business in and with Asia, and is deeply rooted in communities and businesses across Asia Pacific.

DKSH Business Unit Healthcare is the leading Market Expansion Services provider for healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Asia. Custom-made offerings comprise registration, regulatory services, market entry studies, importation, customs clearance, marketing and sales, physical distribution, invoicing and cash collection. Products available through DKSH Healthcare include pharmaceuticals, consumer health and over-the-counter (OTC) products, as well as medical devices. With 150 business locations in 14 countries and around 9,200 specialized staff, Business Unit Healthcare serves over 150,000 customers and generated net sales of around CHF 4.5 billion in 2014.