Otsuka Pharmaceutical has formed a potential US$1.8 B global co-development and co-commercialisation alliance with H. Lundbeck for up to five psychiatric and neuroscience products, including Otsuka’s depot formulation of aripiprazole and OPC-34712, a Phase III drug candidate for schizophrenia and adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder. The deal will help both companies address the forthcoming patent expiries of key marketed products by expanding their CNS pipelines and geographical reach.