Helsinn and Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to Extend Relationship / License Agreement for Japan on Potential New Therapy in the Prevention of Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV)

Lugano, Switzerland and Tokyo, Japan (ots) - Helsinn Group of
Switzerland and Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japanese licensee of
Helsinn's second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist palonosetron,
announce today the signing on April 12, of a licensing agreement
granting Taiho the development and commercialization rights for a new
product for potential use in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced
nausea and vomiting (CINV) in Japan. The arrangement covers the
development of a fixed-dose combination product (in both oral and IV
forms) containing netupitant, a neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor
antagonist, and palonosetron, a serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptor
antagonist.

Under the terms of the agreement, Helsinn will be responsible for
the CMC development. Helsinn's chemical plant in Switzerland will
provide both APIs and Helsinn will manufacture the product in the
group's plant located in Ireland and will also be responsible for the
supply of the product for clinical and commercial use in Japan. Taiho
will be responsible, in strict collaboration with Helsinn, for
conducting preclinical and clinical development and for obtaining
regulatory approvals in Japan, and holding the New Drug Application,
on the basis of studies already performed by Helsinn and in
collaboration with Helsinn.

Riccardo Braglia, CEO of Helsinn group, said: "We are very proud
of the existing successful collaboration with Taiho Pharmaceutical in
Japan. At the beginning of last year our Japanese partner launched
palonosetron on the national market and, within less than one year,
our drug became the market leader in its class. Now our collaboration
is extending to the netupitant-palonosetron fixed dose combination
and we are sure that the success will reiterate."

"We are delighted to extend our relationship with Helsinn with
this license agreement in addition to our strong collaboration with
palonosetron." Mr Toru Usami, President and Representative Director
of Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Said, "with netupitant -
palonosetron fixed dose combination product, we hope to further
contribute in the area of supportive care in oncology."

About Netupitant

Netupitant is a highly selective NK1 receptor antagonist, an
antiemetic that works by blocking the action of Substance P, an
endogenous neurotransmitter contained in high concentrations in the
vomiting center of the brainstem that can stimulate the vomiting
reflex. The fixed-dose combination of netupitant and palonosetron is
entering Phase III for the prevention of acute and delayed nausea and
vomiting following both highly and moderately emetogenic
chemotherapy.

About Palonosetron (Aloxi®, Onicit®, Paloxi®)

Palonosetron (palonosetron hydrochloride) is a second generation
5- HT3 Receptor Antagonist, developed for the prevention of
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with
cancer, with a long half-life of 40 hours and at least 30 times
higher receptor binding affinity than currently available compounds.
Palonosetron demonstrates, in clinical trials and clinical practice,
a unique long-lasting action in the prevention of CINV. A single
intravenous dose of palonosetron provides better protection from CINV
than first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.

Palonosetron is contraindicated in patients known to have
hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its components. The most
commonly reported adverse reactions (incidence >/= 2 percent) in CINV
trials with palonosetron were headache (9 percent) and constipation
(5 percent), and they were similar to the comparators. Palonosetron
has been developed by the Helsinn Group in Switzerland and today it
is marketed as Aloxi®, Onicit®, and Paloxi® in more than 50 countries
world-wide. Palonosetron, marketed as Aloxi®, is the leading brand in
the USA within the CINV Day of Chemo segment, and it is steadily
growing in the European markets.

For more information about palonosetron, please visit the website:
www.aloxi.com

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with
headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and operating subsidiaries in
Ireland and USA. Helsinn's business model is focused on the licensing
of pharmaceuticals and medical devices in therapeutic niche areas.
The Group in-licenses early to late stage new chemical entities,
completes their development from the performance of
pre-clinical/clinical studies and Chemistry, Manufacturing and
Control (CMC), development to the filing for and attainment of their
market approval worldwide. Helsinn's products are out-licensed to its
network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for
their deep in-market knowledge and know-how, and assisted and
supported with a full range of product and scientific management
services, including commercial, regulatory, financial, legal and
medical marketing advice. The active pharmaceutical ingredients and
the finished dosage forms are manufactured at Helsinn's cGMP
facilities in Switzerland and Ireland, and supplied worldwide to its
customers. For more information about Helsinn Group, please visit the
website: www.helsinn.com

About Taiho Pharmaceutical

Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Taiho) is a company engaged in
discovery, development, manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical
products, with its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan. Taiho is a leading
company of oncology field in Japan.

For more information about Taiho, please visit the company's website
at: www.taiho.co.jp/english/index.html

Pressekontakt:
Helsinn Healthcare SA
Paola Bonvicini
Head of Communication & Press Office
Helsinn Healthcare SA
Ph: +41 91-985-21-21
info-hhc@helsinn.com

Taiho Pharmaceutical:
Public Relations Department
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Ph: + 81-3-3293-2878