Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan) Announces Co-Development And Co-Marketing Agreement With Taisho Pharmaceutical For The Antiresorptive Bisphosphonate R484

Tokyo, Japan, Sept 12, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to co-develop and co-market R484 (generic name: ibandronic acid), a bisphosphonate which Chugai is currently developing in Japan for the treatment of osteoporosis. Under the agreement, Chugai will co-develop the compound with Taisho and co-market it with Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Taisho. Chugai will receive an upfront fee and milestone payments from Taisho.