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| October 26, 1998 |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. made agreement with
Johnson & Johnson for licensing of MCC-555 |
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| Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation |
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Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. (MCC) ( Marunouchi 2-5, 2-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo,
Japan, Mr. Akira Miura CEO) today announced it licensed rights to the R.W. Johnson
Pharmaceutical Research Institute (PRI) and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc.,
both Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) units, for MCC-555, a second generation
insulin sensitizing agent, and its backup compounds for the treatment of Type
2 diabetes and related diseases. The agreement gives Johnson & Johnson exclusive
rights to develop and market these compounds worldwide, with the exception of
Japan. According to this agreement, MCC provides bulk material and receives milestone
payments and royalties after launch.
<Diabetes as a widespread problem>
Due to the change in diet and life style in the worldwide basis, the prevalence
of diabetes is continuing to grow at a steady rate. The number of diagnosed patients
at 2007 is expected to be about 35 million in the world and 6 million in Japan.
And the primary consideration in the treatment of diabetes should be the prevention
of complications. As patients continue to live with diabetes, in the absence of
adequate glycemic control, complication of the disease including retinopathy,
neuropathy and nephropathy may develop. Chronic elevation of blood glucose is
also recognized as a risk factor of AMI and stroke. So, prevention and treatment
of diabetes is an urgent issue to decrease total health care cost in the developed
countries. World wide total market volume of 3.5 billion in the future might be
expected for insulin sensitizing agents due to the potential superiority versus
SUs as a new class of oral anti-diabetic agent
<Profile of MCC-555>
MCC-555 belongs to the chemical class of thiazolidinediones (TZD), generally considered
to interact with PPAR-gamma to improve insulin resistance. Decrease of blood glucose
and reduction of insulin doses have been confirmed in clinical trials conducted
with TZD's in Type 2 diabetics. Preclinical data indicate the compound is active
at the PPAR-gamma receptor and early evaluation confirms it as a potential drug
candidate for worldwide development.
<MCC R&D in diabetes>
Diabetes is one of the strategic R&D fields in MCC. One licensed in alpha-glucosidase
inhibitor is already in Phase-2b in Japan. MCC-555 found in MCC Yokohama Research
Center will be the first original compound in this field to enter into clinical
evaluation after completion of Phase-1 studies.
<J&J as the partner of MCC-555>
Johnson & Johnson, with approximately 91000 employees, is the world's most
comprehensive and broadly based manufacturer of health care products serving the
consumer, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and professional markets. Johnson &
Johnson has more than 180 operating companies in 51 countries around the world,
selling products in more than 175 countries.
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