February 18, 2010

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

HEMATIDE^™ ENTERED INTO THE PHASE 3 CLINICAL PROGRAM
TO TREAT ANEMIA IN CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE PATIENTS IN JAPAN

Osaka, Japan (Feb-18) Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited “Takeda” today announced that the investigational compound, Hematide^™, of which Takeda and Affymax Inc (Palo Alto, Calif) “Affymax” contracted the global license agreement, for the treatment of anemia in chronic renal failure has entered into phase 3 clinical program in Japan.

Hematide^™, a synthetic, peptide-based erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), is designed to act on the erythropoietin receptors and stimulate the production of red blood cells by dosing once every four weeks.

"We are pleased that the clinical program for Hematide^™ shows promise and that we can move to phase 3 in Japan,” said, Nancy Joseph-Ridge, M.D., general manager, Pharmaceutical Development Division of Takeda. “This milestone enables Takeda to be a step closer to providing patients with a potential new treatment option for anemia in chronic renal failure."

Takeda and Affymax have been conducting phase 3 program in the US and EU. Follow-up of patients in the phase 3 program was completed in January 2010 and top-line study results are expected to be reported in the 1Q of FY 2010. An NDA submission in the U.S. is expected later in 2010.