Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Chairman & CEO: Osamu Nagayama] (hereafter, “Chugai”) and Aska Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Takashi Yamaguchi] (hereafter, “Aska”), announced today that two companies have entered into a business transfer agreement on April 3, 2015 for two anti-thyroid agents, Mercazole® (generic name: thiamazole, brand name: Mercazole® tablet 5mg, Mercazole® injection 10mg) and Propacil® (generic name: propylthiouracil, brand name: Propacil® tablet 50mg), both are marketed by Chugai. Based on this agreement, Chugai will transfer the rights to manufacture and market both drugs to Aska effective on October 1, 2015.
In order to ensure the stable supply of two drugs, Chugai continues to distribute the products in the interim. It will be successively switched to Aska’s products once all Chugai’s products have been distributed on the market.

Mercazole® and Propacil® are the standard therapies for hyperthyroidism categorized as anti-thyroid agents, and contribute to the treatment of many patients with hyperthyroidism.

Chugai and Aska will cooperate to accomplish a smooth transition of marketing for two products, together with delivering product information which meets medical needs, and promoting the appropriate use of Mercazole®and Propacil®.

Contact:
Media Relations Group, Corporate Communications Dept., Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81-(0)3-3273-0881
E-mail: pr@chugai-pharm.co.jp

Corporate Planning Dept., Aska Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Tel: +81-(0)3-5484-8366
E-mail: kouhou@aska-pharma.co.jp