Yamanouchi is developing
conivaptan, an orally active
vasopressin V1A and V2 antagonist for the potential treatment of
heart failure,
edema and
hyponatremia. The company anticipated launch of the product for
hyponatremia in 2002 [362201]. By May 2001, Yamanouchi was continuing phase II trials in Japan for
hyponatremia and
heart failure, and in the US and Europe for
heart failure, and phase III trials in the US and Europe for
hyponatremia [411763]. In July 2000, it had been reported that
conivaptan was undergoing phase III trials in both the US and Europefor
hyponatremia and
heart failure [377561]. In April 1998, Warner-Lambert (now Pfizer) acquired the rights to
YM-087 for US, South America, Europe and Africa, while Yamanouchi retains copromotion rights, but by November 2000, Pfizer had cancelled its licensing contract to market the
drug in the US [397901]. In September 2001, analysts at Morgan Stanley predicted launch of
conivaptan for
hyponatremia in the US between 2004 and 2005 [422782]. In October 2001, analysts at Credit Suisse First Boston predicted that an NDA would be filed in 2002 followed by launch in 2003, with peak annual sales of $50 million and $300 million for
hyponatremia and
heart failure, respectively [427028].