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

Rückfragehinweis:
Media Enquiries: Eisai Europe Ltd, Charlotte Andrews / Cressida
Robson, +44(0)7947-231513 / +44(0)790-831-4155,
[email protected], [email protected]; Tonic Life
Communications, Benjamyn Tan / Leah Peyton, +44(0)207-798-9262 /
+44(0)7788-191434, [email protected], [email protected]

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