Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Pharmaceuticals
April 25, 2008

The first drug to be approved in Sweden for intermittent claudication: Pletal® is reimbursed

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Board (LFN) has decide that Pletal® (cilostazol) will be reimbursed for the treatment of intermittent claudication (IC), often referred to as "window -watching -disease",

APletal® (cilostazol) was recently approved by the MPA for the treatment of intermittent claudication. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Board has now made the decision to include Pletal in the "high cost protection scheme".

LFN motivates their decision with among others: "IC has a negative impact on QOL. Walking exercise has, up to now, been the only treatment that has a proven effect on walking distance. Pletal® is the first drug that has been approved specifically for treatment of IC symptoms. Studies have shown that Pletal significantly improves walking distance and QOL compared to placebo."

Pletal® is the recommended treatment in TASC II, the international consensus document.