For Immediate Release

KUREHA CORPORATION
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED

License to Market Kremezin(R) (drug for chronic renal failure) in Japan

KUREHA CORPORATION (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takao Iwasaki; hereinafter, "KUREHA") and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Head office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; President & CEO: Michihiro Tsuchiya; hereinafter, "Mitsubishi Tanabe") have entered into an agreement ("the Agreement"), effective on November 1, 2009, under which KUREHA shall grant Mitsubishi Tanabe a license to market Kremezin® in Japan, a drug for chronic renal failure developed by KUREHA.

Kremezin® is manufactured by KUREHA and marketed by DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED (Head office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Takashi Shoda; hereinafter, "DAIICHI SANKYO") in Japan under a license agreement. To properly reflect the Agreement between KUREHA and Mitsubishi Tanabe, a sub-license marketing agreement has been executed between Mitsubishi Tanabe and DAIICHI SANKYO for Kremezin® in Japan. In accordance with these agreements, from November 1, 2009 Mitsubishi Tanabe will purchase Kremezin® manufactured by KUREHA and supply it to DAIICHI SANKYO, and DAIICHI SANKYO will continue its marketing and promotional activities as in the past.

Kremezin® is an oral adsorptive charcoal, consisting of porous spherical activated carbon of high purity. It adsorbs uremic toxins secreted in the gastrointestinal tract or produced in the intestinal tract and excretes the toxins out of the body with the feces. This function of Kremezin is effective in improving symptoms of uremia and delaying the introduction of dialysis treatment. It was introduced to the Japanese market in 1991 and has established a strong position as the first pharmaceutical drug in the world for the proactive treatment of chronic renal failure in the predialysis period.

KUREHA, Mitsubishi Tanabe and DAIICHI SANKYO will continue to cooperate in Kremezin® business in Japan in order to contribute to the healthcare of patients and medical professionals.


For more information, please contact:
KUREHA CORPORATION
Public and Investor Relations Department Phone: +81 3-3249-4651
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Corporate Communications Department Phone: +81 6-6205-5211
DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED
Corporate Communications Department Phone: +81 3-6225-1126