Ajinomoto, Sankyo in Joint Development, Manufacture and Marketing of AJD101, New Diabetes Drug.

Tokyo, Japan, Aug 31, 2006 - (JCN) - Ajinomoto and Sankyo announced an agreement on August 31 which will grant Sankyo exclusive global rights to develop, manufacture and market the new diabetes drug AJD101 and related compounds currently being developed by Ajinomoto.

Ajinomoto will retain the rights to manufacture a portion of this drug line, and will jointly participate with Sankyo in certain phases of further development of this drug.

Sankyo will pay an up-front payment of 4.6 billion yen to Ajinomoto, as well as milestone payments at certain stages of the drug's development, and post-marketing royalties based on sales.

Independently synthesized by Ajinomoto, AJD101 is a groundbreaking anti-diabetic drug possessing a completely new mechanism of action. Findings from non-clinical studies suggest that AJD101 stimulates insulin independent glucose uptake by directly activating the insulin signaling pathway.

The drug has shown glucose-lowering (or anti-hyperglycemic) action after oral administration in various animal models of diabetes. In addition to providing a novel mechanism to treat hyperglycemia, AJD101 may contribute to beta-cell rest which could be expected to alter the otherwise progressive deterioration of pancreatic function that characterizes this chronic disease. Phase I studies in humans are currently underway overseas.

Ajinomoto and Sankyo first collaborated in the marketing of the fast-acting postprandial glucose-lowering (or anti-hyperglycemic) tablets FASTIC in December 2001, and the current agreement will mark their second collaboration. Hereafter, both companies will cooperate with each other to realize a speedy marketing of AJD101.

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