Launch of REMITCH(R) CAPSULES 2.5 μg, new oral antipruritus drug

Tokyo, March 23, 2009 --- Toray Industries, Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Sadayuki Sakakibara; ''Toray''); Japan Tobacco Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Hiroshi Kimura); and Torii Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Norihiko Matsuo; ''Torii'') hereby announced that Torii would launch REMITCH(R) CAPSULES 2.5 μg (generic name: nalfurafine hydrochloride), an oral antipruritus drug for hemodialysis patients, starting March 24. It was jointly developed by the three companies and its manufacturing and marketing approval was obtained in Japan by Toray on January 21, 2009.

Hemodialysis-related uremic pruritus is a condition that causes systemic and severe itching without inflammation on the skin and its cause has yet been clearly elucidated. It is known that this type of itching is not relieved by conventional antipruritus drugs (such as antihistamines) and the development of effective medicines has long been awaited.

REMITCH(R) CAPSULES 2.5 μg is a selective κ(kappa)-opioid receptor agonist, originated from Toray, Japan for the first time as an oral drug to treat itching in hemodialysis patients that is resistant to existing treatments.

This drug is expected to make further contribution to the treatment of pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

The Outlines of REMITCH(R) CAPSULES 2.5 μg