June 2, 2003

Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.

Actos Receives CPMP's Recommendation for Monotherapy
for Defined Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

OSAKA, JAPAN, June 2, 2003 --- Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. ("Takeda") announced today that on May 22, 2003, Takeda Europe Research & Development Centre, Ltd., London, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda, has received a positive opinion from the Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products (CPMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Evaluation Agency (EMEA), recommending use of Actos (pioglitazone) as oral monotherapy at doses up to 45 mg in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients, particularly overweight patients, inadequately controlled by diet and exercise for whom metformin is inappropriate. A dose increase in oral combination treatment up to 45 mg is also recommended simultaneously.

Takeda, has been undertaking additional monotherapy and combination therapy studies to provide further efficacy and safety data for extension of indications for Actos since October 2000 when it was approved in the European Union.

Takeda is the originator of thiazolidinedione derivatives and Actos is a member of the thiazolidinedione class of "insulin-sensitizing" agents. Insulin sensitizers help improve the body's ability to effectively use its own insulin by reducing insulin resistance --- a defect that has been identified as a possible cause of type 2 diabetes.
In the United States, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc. (TPNA), the U.S. marketing subsidiary wholly owned by Takeda, introduced Actos in August 1999, jointly with Eli Lilly and Company ("Lilly") as a co-promotion partner, for the treatment of type 2 diabetes as monotherapy and in combination with sulfonylureas, insulin or metformin.
In Japan, Takeda introduced Actos for use as monotherapy and in combination with sulfonylureas in December 1999 and also received the approval of combination therapy with glucosidase inhibitors in June 2002. Actos has been prescribed to over 4 million patients in more than 60 countries to date. Takeda has licensed Lilly to market Actos in a number of countries around the world.

Takeda is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. It is the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and among the leaders in the world. Takeda is striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products.

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Corporate Communications Dept., Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd.
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