February 24, 2011
Whom It May Concern
Company:KYORIN Holdings, Inc.
Representative: Masahiro Yamashita
Representative Director, President(Securities Code: 4569, TSE 1st Sec.)Contact:
Miyaki Shuji
Director, Corporate Communication
Telephone:(0)3-3293-3414

Kyorin signed a License Agreement with Almirall
on COPD Therapeutic Agent "Aclidinium Bromide" for Japan Territory
KYORIN Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Kyorin") (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,President: Keiji Hirai, Ph.D.), a wholly owned subsidiary of KYORIN Holdings, Inc., signed asof February 23, 2011 a License Agreement for the territory of Japan with Almirall, S.A.
("Almirall") (Head Office: Barcelona, Spain, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer: Dr. JorgeGallardo) on Aclidinium Bromide, a COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) therapeutic
agent originated by Almirall.
Outline of the Transaction
1)

Kyorin acquires exclusive license rights to develop, sell and market Aclidinium in Japan.

2)

Kyorin makes certain amounts of upfront and milestone payments to Almirall. Kyorin
also pays to Almirall certain percentage of sales-related royalties after commercial sales.

COPD is a group of disorders characterized by chronic and progressive obstructive
ventilatory impairment (e.g. breathing difficulty, breathlessness) and occurs mostly in people
with smoking history during the ages of middle or later.
Aclidinium, a novel compound discovered by Almirall, is a long-acting bronchodilator
which improves the symptoms caused by COPD such as difficulty breathing and breathlessness
by its antagonistic action at acetylcholine receptor. This agent is currently being developed inEurope and the US with a novel and state-of-the-art dry powder inhaler, Genuair®, and theregulatory submissions are both planned for mid 2011.
Kyorin hopes to contribute to the improvement of the QOL of the patients with COPD bymaking this promising agent available as quickly as possible, as the first line therapy for COPD
treatment through the partnership with Almirall.
Kyorin has been pursuing the Franchise Customer Strategy under which it focuses on therespiratory, ear-nose-throat and urology fields. The company expects that in-licensing ofAclidinium will heighten its presence in the respiratory field as well as strengthening its
Franchise Customer Strategy.
###About COPD
COPD is a group of disorders characterized by chronic and progressive obstructive ventilatory
impairment (e.g. breathing difficulty, breathlessness) and occurs mostly in people withsmoking history during the ages of middle or later. Its exogenous risk factors other than
tobacco smoking are air pollution, dust, smoke biomass fuel etc. In recent years, anincreasing number of patients has been noted worldwide, and WHO's research speculates that it
would be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020. In Japan, the number ofpossible COPD patients is estimated to reach 5 million from the results of epidemiologicalstudies conducted in 2001. COPD increases in its severity by repeating acute exacerbations,and the deteriorated prognosis is known to increase its death rate. Thus, it is important tomake efforts to reduce the frequency of exacerbations as well as prevent the aggravation byenhancing the QOL through the improvement of the difficulty breathing on exertion and theexercise capacity when the symptoms are stable.
About Aclidinium
INN:Aclidinium Bromide
Formulation:
Dry Powder Inhaler
Originator:
Almirall, S.A.
Features:
1) Few systemic side effects
2) Rapid onset of maximum drug action3) Improvement of symptoms and lung function throughout the day by the twice dailyadministration
About Features of Genuair®
1) Designed with a feedback system, which through a 'colored control window' and an
audible click helps confirm that the patient has inhaled correctly2) Counter for remaining doses
3) Safety features such as an anti-double-dosing mechanism and an end-of-dose lock-out
system to prevent use of an empty inhaler
About Almirall
Established in:
Chairman & CEO:
Head Office:
Revenue:
No. of Employees:
Features:

1943
Dr. Jorge Gallardo
Barcelona, Spain
EUR 925.5 million (approx. JPY 100 billion) (Fiscal Year 2009)
3,100 (Fiscal Year 2009)
Almirall is an international pharmaceutical company based on innovationand committed to health. Headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, it
researches, develops, manufactures and commercializes its own R&D
and licensed drugs with the aim of improving people’s health andwellbeing.
Almirall focuses its research resources on therapeutic areas related to thetreatment of asthma, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease),rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis and otherdermatological conditions.
Almirall's products are currently present in over 70 countries while it has
direct presence in Europe and Latin America through 12 affiliates.
For further information please visit the website at: www.almirall.com