Eisai Expands in Israeli Market With Approval of Halaven

Hatfield, England (ots/PRNewswire) -

Metastatic breast cancer treatment Halaven(R) (eribulin)
provides a

statistically significant overall survival benefit for women
with the disease

Halaven(R) (eribulin), a novel treatment for patients with
locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who have progressed
after at least two chemotherapeutic regimens for advanced disease,
has recently received registration approval from the Israeli health
authorities. Prior therapy should have included two common types of
chemotherapy, an anthracycline and a taxane, unless patients were not
suitable for these treatments.

Eribulin has been proven to significantly extend overall survival
in patients with metastatic breast cancer, compared to other single
agent chemotherapies.[1] Following marketing authorisation, Eisai and
Neopharm group, its partner in Israel, plan to launch the product by
the end of Eisai's financial year 2012 (31 March 2013).

Commenting on the launch of eribulin in Israel, Nick Butland,
Regional Director MPBU, Eisai Europe Limited said, "The launch of
eribulin in Israel will boost Eisai's geographical and patient reach
in this region. Eisai's entry into this market is aligned with the
company's wider strategy of increasing access to our medicines based
on affordability, availability and adoption by making products
available in new markets."

"We are excited about the opportunity to work with Eisai to
introduce Halaven into this region", stated Mr. David Fuhrer,
Chairman of the Neopharm Group. "Working in partnership means that
together we can actively introduce innovative licensed products to
meet the needs of the region and improve the health and quality of
life of patients."

The Israeli launch of eribulin will allow access for women to a
treatment not previously available to them and further supports
Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission to satisfy unmet medical
needs and contribute to the health and well being of people
worldwide. Eisai is dedicated to discovering, developing and
producing innovative oncology therapies that can help make a
difference and impact the lives of patients and their families.

Notes to Editors

Halaven(R) (eribulin)

Eribulin is a non-taxane, microtubule dynamics inhibitor
indicated for the treatment of patients with breast cancer who have
previously received at least two chemotherapeutic regimens for
metastatic disease and whose prior therapy should have included an
anthracycline and a taxane.[1] Eribulin belongs to a class of
antineoplastic agents, the halichondrins, which are natural products,
isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria okadai. It is believed
to work by inhibiting the growth phase of microtubule dynamics
without affecting the shortening phase and sequesters tubulin into
non-productive aggregates.

Eribulin is approved in the European Union, USA, Switzerland,
Japan, and Singapore. In Europe, eribulin is currently commercially
available in Austria, Denmark, Estonia, France, Finland, Germany,
Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

About Eisai

Eisai is one of the world's leading R&D-based pharmaceutical
companies and has defined its corporate mission as "giving first
thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits
health care provides," which we call human health care (hhc). Eisai
recently expanded their UK Hatfield facility which now supports the
company's growing European, Middle Eastern, African and Russian
(EMEA) business.

Eisai concentrates its R&D activities in three key areas:

- Neuroscience, including: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis,
neuropathic pain, epilepsy, depression
- Oncology including: anticancer therapies; tumour regression, tumour
suppression, antibodies, etc and supportive cancer therapies; pain relief, nausea
- Vascular/Immunological reaction including: acute coronary syndrome,
atherothrombotic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease

With operations in the U.S., Asia, Europe and its domestic home
market of Japan, Eisai employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. In
Europe, Eisai undertakes sales and marketing operations in over 20
markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway,
Portugal, Iceland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Middle East and Russia.

For further information please visit our web site
http://www.eisai.com

About Neopharm Group

Neopharm Group [http://neopharmgroup.com ], established in 1941,
is one of Israel's leading providers of innovative integrated
solutions across the spectrums of healthcare and life science.

Throughout the years, the group has evolved into a diversified
health care company. At Neopharm Group, we specialize in building
leadership and combining strengths in the areas of pharmaceuticals,
biologic drugs, orphan drugs, vaccines, hospital products, medical
devices, medical and scientific equipment, diagnostics, OTC,
nutritionals, consumer healthcare products and home therapy.

Neopharm is the exclusive representative and partner of leading
multinational bio-pharma and consumer healthcare brands including:
Abbott, Actelion, Alexion, Celgene, Gilead, Johnson & Johnson,
Novartis Vaccines, Pfizer, Pfizer Consumer Health among others.

Neopharm Group currently employs over 500 talented staff within 5
companies. Neopharm holds the prestigious rank of Israel's
second-largest marketing group in the Israeli healthcare and life
science market. Our revenues exceed $300 million, making us the 58th
largest Israeli company as per D&B's Largest Israeli Enterprises
2011.

For further information please visit our web site:
http://www.neopharmgroup.com

1. Cortes J, O'Shaughnessy J, Loesch D, et al. Eribulin
monotherapy versus treatment of physician's choice in patients with
metastatic breast cancer (EMBRACE): a phase 3 open-label randomised
study. The Lancet. 2011; 377: 914 -923

July 2012 / Eribulin-UK2174

ots Originaltext: Eisai Europe Limited
Im Internet recherchierbar: http://www.presseportal.de

Contact:
Media Enquiries: Eisai Europe Ltd, Charlotte Andrews / Cressida
Robson, +44(0)7947-231513 / +44(0)790-831-4155,
charlotte_andrews@eisai.net, cressida_robson@eisai.net; Tonic Life
Communications, Benjamyn Tan / Leah Peyton, +44(0)207-798-9262 /
+44(0)7788-191434, benjamyn.tan@toniclc.com, leah.peyton@toniclc.com