Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Corporate
January 30, 2009

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Established Otsuka Shanghai Research Institute in China for Innovative Drug Discovery Research

Tokyo, Japan, January 30, 2009 -- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Japan; President and Representative Director: Taro Iwamoto; hereafter, Otsuka Pharmaceutical) today announced the establishment of Otsuka Shanghai Research Institute (hereinafter, OSRI) as its basic research institute for new drug discovery in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Shanghai. The research facility will go into full scale operation in February, 2009.

OSRI is a fully owned subsidiary of Otsuka (China) Investment Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical's holding company in China. OSRI aims to discover innovative compounds focusing on infectious diseases and CNS (central nervous system) disorders in collaboration with other Otsuka group companies and local research institutes in China.

With institutes conducting basic research in Japan (Tokushima, Shiga and Hyogo) and the U.S.A. (Maryland), Otsuka Pharmaceutical had been committed to discover innovative compounds leveraging its global research network. The establishment of and the start of operation's at OSRI is expected to expand the existing research network to include China in addition to Japan and the U.S.A.

OSRI's premises are located in a building owned by Eiken Shanghai Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Eiken Chemical Co., Ltd. with whom Otsuka Pharmaceutical has a strategic alliance in the field of clinical diagnostics.

Based on the corporate philosophy of 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide', Otsuka Pharmaceutical is dedicated to contributing to the health of people around the world.

Otsuka's R&D Network for Pharmaceutical Products Worldwide

About Otsuka Shanghai Research Institute

Established August 22, 2008
Capital US$5.1 Million
Representative Kuniaki Natsume, Chairman and President
Head Office 3F NO.1058 Halei Road, Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203 P.R.China
Number of Employees 8 (as of January 2009)
Scope of Business Research and Development of Pharmaceuticals