SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd

SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & President: Yoshitaka Kitao; “SBI Pharmaceuticals”), a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc., engaged in research and development of pharmaceuticals, health foods and cosmetics using 5-aminolevulinic acid (“5-ALA”)*1, hereby announces that SBI Pharmaceuticals has concluded the exclusive license agreement with Neopharma LLC. (Head office: Abu Dhabi, U.A.E; Executive Vice Chairman & Managing Director: B. R. Shetty, Ph.D.; “Neopharma” *2) on the therapeutic drugs for diabetes and malaria infection.

SBI Pharmaceuticals will, under this agreement, grant to Neopharma the worldwide right and license of the patents and know-how on the treatment of diabetes and malaria infection using 5-ALA, and receive, in consideration for the grant, an upfront payment and the milestones by the progress of the development.

The efficacies of 5-ALA have already been confirmed in cultured cells and animal models in the development for the therapeutic drugs to treat diabetes and malaria infection. The Phase I study conducted in the United Kingdom was completed and the safety in healthy subject has been confirmed. Neopharma will from now on conduct clinical trials (Phase II/III) with National Institute of Malaria Research in India on malaria infection and other foreign medical institutions on diabetes.

SBI Pharmaceuticals will continue to pursue various potential applications of 5-ALA, and focus on research and development to provide pharmaceuticals that satisfy the unmet medical needs of as many people as possible around the world.

(*1) 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)
An amino acid created in mitochondria. It is an important substance that serves as a functional molecule related to energy production in the form of heme and cytochromes, and its productivity is known to decrease with age. 5-ALA is contained in food such as shochu lees, red wine and Asian ginseng. It is also known as a material forming chloroplasts in plants.

(*2): Neopharma
A corporation established in U.A.E. in 2003 to manufacture and market pharmaceuticals; such as, Neopharma brand generics of anti-infectives, analgesics, antipyretics and anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs for diabetes, cardiovascular drugs, respiratory medicines, gastrointestinal drugs and vitamins. The corporation has deep connections with the Royal family, and its corporate group holds such a promising enterprise as NMC Health PLC (Listed in London Stock Exchange), currently running in Abu Dhabi the largest private hospital, where over 3 million patients visit per year.

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For further information, please contact:
SBI Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.: Corporate Planning Dept., Tel: +81-3-6229-0095

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