TOKYO -- Gilead Sciences and Japan Tobacco signed a letter of intent to dissolve their licensing partnership, the cigarette company said Monday, as the U.S. drugmaker prepares to market a new HIV treatment in Japan on its own.
JT unit Torii Pharmaceutical produces and sells six HIV drugs for Gilead in Japan under the partnership, which dates to 2003. Torii's sales of the drugs totaled 19.7 billion yen ($177 million) last year.
