May 10, 2018
SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited
Fuminori Yoshida
Representative Director
President and Chief Executive Officer(Securities Code: 4582)

Initiation of Collaborative Research with Keio University
on TREAKISYM® for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
TOKYO, Japan, May 10, 2018 -- SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited (Headquarters: Tokyo, "SymBio")announced today that it has entered into a joint research agreement with Keio University (Principal
Investigator: Professor Takeuchi, Department of Rheumatology and Collagen Diseases) to conduct a

preclinical study on the therapeutic effect of TREAKISYM® on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
SLE, which affects an estimated 60,000 to 100,000 patients in Japan, is an intractable autoimmune
disease that can affect many parts of the body. Currently, treatment options for SLE are limited, andsteroids are mainly used. If treatment with steroids is ineffective, the immunosuppressive drug
cyclophosphamide is used as the standard treatment. However, treatment with cyclophosphamide isassociated with side effects such as hair loss and myelosuppression, and there is an urgent need todevelop effective treatments with reduced side effects.

TREAKISYM® is already used as a first choice treatment for many patients with malignant
lymphoma, and is superior in terms of side effects (such as less hair loss). TREAKISYM® isanticipated to have clinical efficacy in autoimmune diseases. Its anti-inflammatory effect has alreadybeen confirmed in basic studies with human cells by inducing the production of interleukin-10, which
suppresses inflammation. SLE has a high level of unmet medical needs among autoimmune diseases.
The Company is currently planning a clinical trial of TREAKISYM® oral for patients with SLE andwill conduct a preclinical study for this purpose.
In addition to expanding the indications for malignant lymphoma, SymBio is developing aTREAKISYM® platform including products for use in the treatment of autoimmune diseases. The
joint research with Keio University is part of this business strategy. SymBio will continue to explore
the potential of TREAKISYM® oral and liquid formulations to maximize business value and bring
benefits to patients.

[Contact]
Investor Relations
Tel: +81 (0)3 5472 1125

1About TREAKISYM®

TREAKISYM® (non-proprietary name: bendamustine hydrochloride), a cytocide anti-cancer drug firstused in Germany in the 1970s, is now widely used in more than 50 countries with indications for
low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Bendamustine is a unique compound having chemical properties of both an alkylating agent3 and ametabolic antagonist4, and a mode of action different from other anti-cancer drugs. It is expected thatbendamustine, given its unique properties, could be effective for the treatment of solid tumors as wellas malignant lymphoma. A number of clinical studies of bendamustine injectables have been

conducted outside of Japan to explore this potential, with clinical efficacy reported for certain solidtumors, including breast cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and soft tissue sarcoma. Furthermore, clinicalstudies of oral bendamustine for multiple myeloma, low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and chronic
lymphocytic leukemia have indicated favorable results with respect to both safety and tolerability3 oforal formulation.
TREAKISYM® Intravenous Infusion 100 mg was approved in October, 2010 for manufacturingand marketing for the indication of relapsed/refractory low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
and mantle cell lymphoma in Japan.

TREAKISYM® was approved for the additional indication of chronic lymphocytic leukemia inJapan in August, 2016.
TREAKISYM® Intravenous Infusion 25 mg, a standard low-dose product, was approved formanufacturing and marketing in Japan in September, 2016.
TREAKISYM® was approved for the additional indication of first-line treatment of low-grade
B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma in Japan in December, 2016.

TREAKISYM® has been marketed through Eisai Co., Ltd. since December, 2010.
1.

An alkylating agent is a type of cytotoxic anti-cancer drug. Alkylating agents inhibit DNA replication byattaching alkyl group sites to the DNA chain.

2.

A metabolic antagonist is a type of cytotoxic anti-cancer drug. Metabolic antagonists prevent DNA
replication and the growth and division of tumor cells by interfering with the utilization of substances
produced in the metabolic process.

About Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)SLE is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammatory lesions triggered by immune
complexes, such as DNA bound to antibodies that recognize and bind to DNA (anti-DNA antibodies)deposited in various organs and tissues. Although its symptoms can be controlled through treatment,
the disease is chronic with remissions and exacerbations. The cause of SLE is thought to be acombination of genetic as well as environmental factors, such as infection, sex hormones, ultraviolet
light, or drugs.

2About SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited
SymBio Pharmaceuticals Limited was established in March, 2005 by Fuminori Yoshida who
previously served concurrently as Corporate VP of Amgen Inc. and founding President of Amgen
Japan. In May, 2016 SymBio incorporated its wholly-owned subsidiary in the U.S., SymBio Pharma
USA, Inc. (Headquarters: Menlo Park, California, President: Mr. Fuminori Yoshida). SymBio’s
underlying corporate mission is to “deliver hope to patients in need” as it aspires to be a leading global
specialty biopharmaceutical company dedicated to addressing underserved medical needs with maintherapeutic focus in oncology, hematology, and pain management.

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