ONO PHARMACEUTICAL : and CCPC enter into an agreement on development and commercialization of Limaprost in Taiwan(18.2KB)

Corporate Communications public_relations@ono.co.jp

March 16, 2015

ONO PHARMACEUTICALCO.,LTD. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President, Representative Director and CEO: Gyo Sagara, "ONO") and China Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taipei, Taiwan;Chairman of the Board & President : Derek S. Wang, "CCPC") *3 announced today that the companies entered into an agreement on development and commercialization of limaprost alfadex*1 owned by ONO ("limaprost", product name in Japan: OPALMON®Tablets) in Taiwan.
Under this agreement, ONO will grant CCPC the exclusive right to develop and commercialize limaprost for the treatment of lumber spinal canal stenosis*2 in Taiwan. CCPC will develop and commercialize limaprost in Taiwan after obtaining the marketing authorization. After the launch of limaprost in Taiwan, CCPC will pay royalties to ONO according to the sales amount of limaprost.
Through this cooperation, ONO and CCPC wish to provide limaprost to, and contribute to the treatment of, the patients with the lumber spinal canal stenosis for which no effective drug is available in Taiwan.

*1. About limaprost alfadex

Limaprost alfadex is an oral prostaglandin E1 analogue with blood flow increasing effect through peripheral vasodilatation and inhibitory effect of platelet aggregation. It was approved for the treatment of ischemic symptoms such as skin ulcer, pain and coldness accompanying thromboangiitis obliterans in 1988 and for the treatment of subjective symptoms such as pain and numbness of lower leg and walking disability associated with acquired lumber spinal canal stenosis (in patients with bilateral intermittent claudication showing normal Straight Leg Raising (SLR) test result) as an additional indication in 2001.

*2. About lumbar spinal canal stenosis

Lumbar spinal canal stenosis is mainly observed among the elderly people. Age-related changes in a bone (deformation of intervertebral joints and vertebra) and/or hypertrophy of the ligaments that cover the inner wall of the spinal canal contribute to a narrowing of the lumen of the lumbar spinal canal. Such a narrowed lumen contributes to poor blood circulation of the cauda equina, leading to lack of nutrition in the area and eventually resulting in neurologic functional impairment. As a result, pain and numbness are caused in lower limbs, which consequently lead to difficulty in walking (intermittent claudication) in many cases.

*3. About China Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (CCPC)

Founded in 1952, China Chemical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (CCPC) is dedicated to the innovation, research and development, manufacturing, and upgrade of services in the pharmaceutical industry. Since its establishment, CCPC has made numerous advances in the development of pharmaceutical and healthcare products for use in humans and animals. Widely used in every hospital and family household, the company's advanced medical and health products help ensure better health and quality of life. To successfully transform from a traditional pharmaceutical company to a health service enterprise, besides continuing to distribute self-branded products, CCPC also partners with domestic and international businesses to join efforts in providing better solution to the Healthcare industry of Taiwan.

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