ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½

HI-ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ Pharmaceutical Inc. (Headquarters: Makati City, the Philippines, President: Lourdes Magno), a subsidiary in the Philippines of ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and CEO: Haruo Naito), announced today that the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) approved “Clevudine” (generic name) for the inhibition of virus replication in chronic hepatitis B patients (HbeAg positive or HbeAg negative) with evidence of active viral replication and elevations in serum aminotransferases (ALT or AST). ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ will market the drug under a brand name of “REVOVIR” in the Philippines.

Clevudine is an antiviral drug with an inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. In the Philippines, about 8 million people are believed to be infected with hepatitis B. With its potent and sustained anti-viral effect, Clevudine is expected to be a new treatment option for patients with deterioration in liver function caused by hepatitis B.

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ obtained exclusive right to develop, manufacture and market Clevudine in eight Asian countries including China from Bukwang Pharma, a South Korean pharmaceutical company, and has been developing Clevudine in those countries. The Philippines is the first country among them to approve Clevudine for marketing. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ is currently expediting the development or proceeding with the preparations for filing for approval of Clevudine in the remainder of the countries.

ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ develops and markets drugs for liver diseases that include Stronger Neo-Minophagen C®, Glycyron® and Livact® in China and other Asian countries. ÎÚÑ»´«Ã½ will continue to make further contributions to improving QOL and benefits to patients with liver diseases in Asia.