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On May 14 (local time in Thailand), ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ(Thailand) Marketing Company Limited (Headquarters: Bangkok, President: Sithongsurapana Thaweesak), the Thai pharmaceutical sales subsidiary of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President & CEO: Haruo Naito) submitted an application to the Thai Food and Drug Administration for the gastroprokinetic agent Gasmotin® (generic name: mosapride citrate) for the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with functional dyspepsia.

Gasmotin® is the gastroprokinetic agent originally developed by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. In April 2006, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµand Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma executed the license agreement which Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma granted to ¾«¶«Ó°Òµthe rights for development, manufacturing and marketing of Gasmotin® in ten Asian countries including ASEAN members. This application in Thailand is the first application submitted since the license agreement was signed.

Gasmotin® is a selective serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonist which stimulates 5-HT4 receptors in nerve plexuses in the gastrointestinal tract and has gastroprokinetic and gastric evacuant effects by enhancing acetylcholine release.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµis actively developing new business in Asian market with its global products including Aricept® (symptomatic treatment for Alzheimer’s disease) and Pariet® (proton pump inhibitor), as well as utilizing various business alliances with its partners. In particular, ¾«¶«Ó°Òµhas a solid basis for marketing in the gastroenterology area achieved by the experience with major gastritis/gastric ulcer treatments including Pariet® and Selbex®. The extension of the product lineup with Gasmotin® will bring greater synergy, allowing it to make further contributions to the greater numbers of patients in the market.

¾«¶«Ó°Òµplans to make further efforts in order to achieve submission in other Asian countries and continues to make efforts for increasing the benefits to the patients in this region.