GSK announced a joint venture (JV with Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. to form the largest vaccines company in Japan. The JV “will hold the development and commercial rights for already existing preventative vaccines from both parent companies (and) supply globally recommended vaccines to help protect people of all ages in Japan including Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Rotavirus vaccine, Seasonal flu vaccine, Mumps vaccine, Diphtheria Pertussis (DTP) vaccine, and Measles Rubella (MR) vaccine.” Both companies will sell their respective vaccines into the JV at agreed upon prices and will have an equal stake in the joint venture. Christophe Weber, President Designate of GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines, commented, “This collaboration marks another step in our strategy to build our presence in key growth markets and will create the first and largest company dedicated solely to vaccines in Japan. We are very pleased to be partnering with Daiichi Sankyo, a highly regarded company and an established leader in Japan.  Both companies have strong track records in commercialisation and, in combination, will create further significant economies of scale in the development and distribution of vaccines in the Japanese market.”