July 2001

Conclusion of Licensing Agreement for New Anti-Cancer Agent

I. Contents of the Agreement    Ajinomoto Co., Inc. signed a license agreement on July 9 with Aventis Pharma Ltd. for the development, manufacturing and marketing of AC-7700 (AVE8062), an anticancer agent currently under research and development by Ajinomoto. Under the agreement, Aventis Pharma will license from Ajinomoto the exclusive development, manufacturing and marketing rights for AC-7700 (AVE8062) throughout the world. Aventis Pharma plans to begin clinical trials for AC-7700 (AVE8062) in Europe and the U.S. in the second half of 2001.      AC-7700 (AVE8062) is a new anticancer agent created at Ajinomoto’s Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, using technology cultivated through R&D of existing anticancer drugs such as Lentinan and IL-2 and in the field of biotechnology. This completely new type of solid cancer treatment agent acts by interrupting the blood flow that supplies nutrition and oxygen to cancer tissues. In pre-clinical testing, it has been shown to be effective on many cancer cells that had not responded to other drugs, including cancers in advanced stages. Used alone or in combination with existing drugs, AC-7700 (AVE8062) may offer patients a new method of treatment.   Ajinomoto’s pharmaceutical business is built around the two pillars of global new drugs with unique characteristics and amino acid nutritional pharmaceuticals. Business in the area of global new drugs is focused on licensing of intellectual property acquired through research and development, with Ajinomoto receiving royalties and payments for milestones in the development stage from licensees. The anticancer drug AC-7700 (AVE8062) also is a candidate to become a global new drug. However, Ajinomoto expects that entrusting commercialization of this product to Aventis Pharma, a leading company in the field of anticancer agents, will speed up development and enable the drug to be used by a greater number of patients at healthcare institutions.   II. Reference Pharmaceutical Business of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. Ajinomoto has built its pharmaceutical business around the two pillars of global new drugs with unique characteristics and amino acid nutritional pharmaceuticals, with a focus on three fields: infusions, nutritional pharmaceuticals and gastrointestinal diseases; cardiovascular diseases; and diabetes. The company has developed and marketed global new drugs in countries around the world, both on its own and through licensees. These include the antidiabetic drug nateglinide, which is sold under the brand names FASTIC (Aventis Pharma Ltd.), STARSIS (Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.), and Starlix (Novartis Pharma AG). In domestic business, Ajinomoto Pharma Co., Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary established in December 1999, carries out development, manufacturing and marketing of amino acid nutritional pharmaceuticals, infusions, gastrointestinal pharmaceuticals and medical dietary products.    Consolidated net sales of the pharmaceuticals business in fiscal 2000 were approximately ¥64.0 billion yen, based on National Health Insurance sales.   Profile of Aventis Pharma AG A global leader in pharmaceutical and agriculture-related businesses, Aventis (NYSE: AVE) is dedicated to improving the quality of people’s lives through the discovery and development of innovative products. In 2000, Aventis posted consolidated net sales of 22.3 billion euros (about ¥2,384.3 billion), and its pharmaceutical and agricultural businesses combined employ approximately 92,500 people. In November 2000, Aventis announced its plan to divest its agriculture business and focus exclusively on pharmaceuticals. Aventis, which has its global headquarters in Strasbourg, France, was formed in December 1999 through the merger of Hoechst AG of Germany and Rhône-Poulenc SA of France. More information is available on the company’s web site at www.aventis.com.

 

c l o s e