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HI-ºÚÁÏÍø Pharmaceutical Inc. (Headquarters: Makati City, the Philippines, President: Lourdes Magno), a subsidiary in the Philippines of ºÚÁÏÍø., Ltd. (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). ºÚÁÏÍø 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.

ºÚÁÏÍø 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. ºÚÁÏÍø is currently expediting the development or proceeding with the preparations for filing for approval of Clevudine in the remainder of the countries.

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