Eisai Inc. Assumes U.S. Distribution Responsibilities for Aciphex(R); Company Accomplishes Long-Term Goal for Aricept(R) and Aciphex(R).

TEANECK, N.J., Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. announced today that the company has assumed the U.S. distribution responsibilities for Aciphex(R) (rabeprazole sodium) from Janssen Pharmaceutica, Inc. affiliate JOM Pharmaceutical Services. Eisai and Janssen will continue to co-promote Aciphex(R), a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribed for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), in the United States. The partnership with Janssen for sales, marketing and further clinical development remains unchanged for the duration of the co-promotion agreement.

Effective December 29, 2003, Eisai is fulfilling purchase orders for Aciphex(R) from a contract distribution center in Memphis, Tenn. Aciphex(R) was discovered and developed by Eisai and is manufactured and packaged in its Research Triangle Park, N.C., facility.

"The transition of the distribution of Aciphex(R) to Eisai marks the accomplishment of an important long-term goal in the company's quest to achieve independence and growth in the manufacturing, distribution and promotion of its own products," said Bill Sheldon, president and COO of Eisai Inc. "The distribution of Aricept(R) (donepezil hydrochloride tablets), and now, Aciphex(R), further enhances Eisai's capabilities as a licensee and committed partner."

Eisai's distribution contractor is centrally located in Memphis to ensure a quick turn-around time for customer orders. Eisai's return goods policy and terms and conditions of sales to direct U.S. and Puerto Rico customers will apply to Aciphex(R) sales after December 29, 2003, and these policies and terms are posted on Eisai's web site (http://www.eisai.com/, Pharmacy Trade Relations). All Aricept(R) and Aciphex(R) returns can be processed through Universal Solution Inc.'s One Box Returns Program.

About Eisai Inc.

Eisai Inc. is a U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., a research-based human health care company that discovers, develops and markets products in more than 30 countries. Established in 1995, Eisai Inc. began marketing its first product, Aricept(R), in the United States in 1997 and has rapidly grown to become an integrated pharmaceutical business with sales of nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2002 (year ending March 31, 2003).

Drawing on the R&D strengths of its global parent company, Eisai focuses its efforts in four therapeutic areas: neurology, gastrointestinal disorders, oncology and acute care. Eisai Inc. employs more than 850 people at its headquarters in Teaneck, N.J., at its state-of-the-art pharmaceutical production and formulation research and development facility in Research Triangle Park, N.C., and in the field. Between 1998 and 2002, Eisai Inc. moved up rapidly in the rankings of U.S. pharmaceutical companies (based on revenues) from No. 44 to 23.