April 20, 2006

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

Takeda Announces Conclusion of Successful ACTOS® (pioglitazone HCl) Marketing Collaboration in the United States

Osaka, Japan, April 20, 2006 --- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") today announced the conclusion of the marketing collaboration in the United States between its wholly owned subsidiary, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. ("TPNA") and Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") to promote the type 2 diabetes treat-ment ACTOS® (pioglitazone HCl). TPNA and Lilly have been jointly promoting ACTOS in the United States since its launch in 1999.

Takeda will now assume all marketing and sales responsibilities of ACTOS in the U.S. as planned at the outset of the agreement in 1998. Takeda remains confident that TPNA will continue to drive the further growth of ACTOS and ACTOplus met™ in the U.S. market. Takeda, the discoverer of ACTOS and a pioneer in the development of the thiazolidinedione class of oral anti-diabetics, has steadily increased its responsibility for the marketing and sales of ACTOS throughout the life of the partnership.

Eli Lilly will continue to be a strategic partner of Takeda outside the U.S., by selling ACTOS in Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe and Asia as agreed upon in the original agreement with Takeda.

"Takeda's partnership with Eli Lilly to market ACTOS in the United States was a great success and mutually beneficial to both companies. The partnership set a global example of successful alliance management in the pharmaceutical industry, "said Yasuchika Hasegawa, President and Chief Operating Officer of Takeda. "We would like to thank Eli Lilly for being an ideal partner in the U.S., sharing the common commitment to providing high quality patient care. We believe that the sales of ACTOS outside the U.S. will further grow supported by our alliance with Lilly."

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About Eli Lilly

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers - through medicines and information - for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available on .

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