Extension of the Shelf Life for the Anti-influenza Agent, Tamiflu^® Capsule 75, for the Purpose of Stockpiling by the Japanese Government as a Measure against New Influenza

November 12, 2008 (Tokyo) - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. [Head office: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Osamu Nagayama] (hereafter, "Chugai") announced today that approval was granted on November 10, 2008, for the partial change filing submitted to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on March 28, 2008 with the aim of extending the shelf life from five to seven years for the anti-influenza agent, Tamiflu^®Capsule 75 (hereafter, "Tamiflu^® Capsule") for the purpose of stockpiling by the government as a measure against new influenza pandemic. The product filed for is licensed-in from F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Head office: Basel, Switzerland; CEO: Severin Schwan) and marketed in Japan by Chugai, and is currently being stockpiled by the Japanese government as a measure against new influenza pandemic.

The above filing was submitted by Chugai taking into account the fact that the use of the government-stockpiled product will be limited to outbreaks of pandemic by new influenza strains.

Chugai would further like to announce that the shelf life for market-distributed products to be prescribed for seasonal influenza will remain unchanged at the current five years for the Tamiflu^® Capsule and two years for Tamiflu^® Dry Syrup 3%.