Chugai Presents "Volunteer for Life: Jose Carreras Sings MISA CRIOLLA" as the Special Co-Sponsor

October 20, 2005 (Tokyo) - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President Osamu Nagayama (hereinafter, Chugai)] announced today that it would join the special co-sponsorship for a charity concert entitled "Volunteer for Life: Jose Carreras Sings Misa Criolla" featuring the Spanish tenor of the world, Jose Carreｒas, who overcame chronic myelocytic leukemia by marrow transplantation.

The purpose of this charity concert is to support and help patients suffering from severe blood diseases such as leukemia by assisting the activities of the Japan Marrow Donor Program (the Japan Marrow Bank) and Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation established by Mr. Carreras himself.

Chugai is promoting a range of social responsibility programs in "healthcare" and "welfare" aiming to contribute to the well-being of people. Consistent with this policy, Chugai has been supporting the Japan Marrow Donor Program established in December 1991 in various ways.
The first charity concert featuring Jose Carreras was held in 1993 thanks to the efforts of the Japan Marrow Donor Program and this time will be the fifth. Chugai has been supporting the event as the main sponsor since the second charity concert held in 1997.

Chugai's raison d'etre is to work "for the benefit of the medical community and human health around the world" and is committed to continuing these socially responsibility activities in addition to supplying innovative drugs.

Reference

Outline of "Volunteer for Life: Jose Carreｒas Sings Misa Criolla"

Date, Time and Venue:
October 23 (Sun)  5 p.m. at Aichi Arts Center Concert Hall
October 26 (Wed) 7 p.m. at Hyogo Performing Arts Center Grand Hall
October 29 (Sat)  3 p.m. at Yokohama Minato Mirai Hall
November 1 (Tue) 7 p.m. at Suntory Hall
Hosted by: TV Asahi Corporation, VIS A VISION
Supported by: The Japan Marrow Donor Program,
                     Jose Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation, Embassy of Argentina,
                     Embassy of Spain, Yokohama Municipal Government (only on Oct. 29)
Special co-sponsor: Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.