July 19th, 2018

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Receives
The 43rd (FY2018) Inoue Harushige Prize- A challenge for the new drug against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), research and development of edaravone.Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (here inaf ter "MTPC"; Head Office:Chuo-ku, Osaka; President & Representative Director: Masayuki Mitsuka)
today announced that MTPC received the 43 rd (FY2018) Inoue Harushige
Prize with Dr. Hiide Yoshino, Director of Yoshino Neurology Clinic, for its
research and development of edaravone as a novel treatment foramyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS * 1 ), and was commended in theawarding ceremony that took place on July 18, 2018.

Radicava®

Masayuki Mitsuka, President & Representative
Director, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Dr. HiideYoshino, Director of Yoshino Neurology Clinic andMr. Michinari Hamaguchi, Chairperson of Inoue
Harushige Prize Committee, from left

The Inoue Harushige Prize commends researchers and companies for theiroutstanding contributions to the advancement of Japan's scientific technologies,
economy, and welfare, enabled by the technologies the companies have developedand commercialized using unique research achievements made at universities andresearch institutions.
Edaravone (US product name: Radicava®), launched in Japan in 2001 as the world's
first commercial free radical scavenger, is an agent for ischemic stroke treatment
pharmaceutical had discovered by MTPC. Edaravone has a neuroprotective actionthat eliminates oxidative stress, a factor that damages cells in such events ascerebral infarction.
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The commendation acknowledges the high value of the discovery of a treatment
agent for ALS that has demonstrated for the first time in the world a statisticallysignificant reduction in the progression of disability based on the rating of activities
of daily living and quality of life (QOL)*2, in a preceding clinical trial on edaravone
as a treatment for ALS by Dr. Yoshino (then with Kohnodai Hospital, National Centerof Neurology and Psychiatry), and a clinical trial conducted jointly by MTPC and Dr.
Yoshino as a Medical expert; the commendation also highly recognizes the successof this drug repositioning, which turned edaravone, whose sale had been limited tothe domestic market, to US and Korea, which continued to expand its value EU.
We expect that this commendation of the Inoue Harushige Prize will greatly
encourage our research and development of treatment for intractable diseases aswell as promote and advance discovery of drugs for intractable diseases.
MTPC will strive to deliver edaravone as a treatment for ALS to patients fighting
against ALS as well as their families and carers both in Japan and abroad.
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Corporate Communications Department
Media Contacts: TEL: +81 6 6205 5119
Investor Contacts: TEL: +81 6 6205 5110
*1
ALS is a neurodegenerative disorder of unknown etiology, characterized by
selective degeneration/ loss of motor neuron and systemic and progressive
muscular weakness and atrophy, occurring, for example, in the extremity muscles,
facial muscles, and respiratory muscles. It is difficult to distinguish ALS from otherdiseases merely by its initial symptoms, and it may take 12-14 months before thediagnosis of ALS is determined (Kano O et al., BMC Neurology 13: 19, 2013).
Development of ALS is not associated with race or ethnic background, and its
incidence is said to be 2 in 100,000. While various factors are believed to trigger
the onset of ALS, the mechanism has not been clarified. Possible causes of ALS
include neuronal damage due to genetic abnormality, oxidative stress or excesslevels of glutamic acid, and basic studies on ALC, including genetic research, havebeen advancing rapidly.
*2The Writing Group on behalf of the Edaravone (MCI-186) ALS 19 Study Group.
Safety and efficacy of edaravone in well-defined patients with amyotrophic lateralsclerosis: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol.
2017;16:505-12.

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