First Japanese Pharma Company in DHCC to Offer Innovative Treatment in Oncology and Neurology

To Introduce Revolutionary Treatment for Breast Cancer

Dubai-UAE: 19 April, 2012 - Eisai Pharmaceuticals, one of the top five research and development-based pharmaceutical companies in Japan, has opened its regional offices at Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) as part of its vision to offer innovative treatment in oncology and neurology to patients in the MENA region.

Eisai is set to introduce a revolutionary treatment for breast cancer, the third leading cause of death in the UAE, according to a study conducted by the Dubai-based Centre for Arab Genomic Studies.

Eisai's expansion into the Middle East and Africa coincides with its celebration of 70 years in operation. To mark this occasion, a launch ceremony was held at DHCC that was attended by senior government officials and management from Dubai Healthcare City and Eisai. A number of UAE-based healthcare providers were also present at the event.

Ayman El Deeb, the new EMEA Regional Director for Eisai, said: "Eisai's entry into the Middle East and Africa region enforces our wider plan of increasing access to medicines based on a strategy of affordability, availability, adoption and architecture.

"The company's expansion is an opportunity to make our currently marketed and pipeline products available, bringing state-of-the-art therapies to patients in the region."

Dr Ayesha Abdulla, Managing Director of Dubai Healthcare City, said: "The presence of Eisai, the first Japanese pharmaceutical company in Dubai Healthcare City, complements our commitment to hosting specialized healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies at the free zone. Eisai will also help us translate our endeavour to offer unique services and products to our growing patient base. Oncology and neurology are our key focus areas at DHCC and we look towards Eisai Pharmaceuticals to help us offer quality treatment and innovative solutions." 

According to recent pharmaceutical data that was released during Duphat 2012, drug consumption in the MENA region accounts for about 1.5 per cent of the global total totalling approximately US$9 billion. The UAE is second in the region in terms of capital invested in the pharmaceutical sector. A recent RNCOS, an industry research solution company, report outlined that the pharmaceutical market in the region is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of around 9.5 per cent during 2011-2013.

About Dubai Healthcare City
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) was launched in 2002 by the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to meet the demand for high-quality healthcare. Today, DHCC is home to over 90 facilities including 2 JCI-accredited hospitals, with over 2,500 licensed healthcare professionals. DHCC occupies 4.1 million square feet in the heart of Dubai and combines the leading expertise of medical institutions and pre-eminent healthcare providers to deliver over 80 specialties. DHCC continues to be the location of choice for investors interested in expanding their market reach in the region. Visit: www.dhcc.ae

About Eisai
Established in 1941, Eisai Co., Ltd. has its global headquarters located in Tokyo, Japan. In 2009, the company established its EMEA business headquarters at Hatfield, UK. The £100 million facility, initially focused on Europe, now supports the company's growing EMEA business. 

Eisai is one of the world's leading R&D-based pharmaceutical companies and has defined its corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call human health care (hhc). Eisai recently expanded their UK Hatfield facility which now supports the company's growing European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) business.

Eisai concentrates its R&D activities in three key areas:

  • Neuroscience, including: Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, epilepsy, depression

  • Oncology including: anticancer therapies; tumour regression, tumour suppression, antibodies, etc and supportive cancer therapies; pain relief, nausea

  • Vascular/Immunological reaction including: acute coronary syndrome, atherothrombotic disease, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn's disease

With operations in the U.S., Asia, Europe and its domestic home market of Japan, Eisai employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. In Europe, Eisai undertakes sales and marketing operations in over 20 markets, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Austria, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

For further information please visit our web site www.eisai.com

About Eisai's Commitment to Neglected Tropical Diseases
Alongside other leading pharmaceutical companies, Eisai signed a declaration earlier this year in London with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the WHO, the US and UK governments, the World Bank and governments from neglected tropical disease (NTD) endemic countries to make a coordinated effort to eliminate 10 NTDs by 2020. Eisai is the only Japanese company to join the 'London Declaration'.

Eisai has also recently announced that it has discovered a potential treatment for Chagas disease and the UK Wellcome Trust is funding its development

About Eisai's plan HAYABUSA
HAYABUSA is the name of Eisai's medium-term strategic plan, embarked on from April 2011. It aims for sales of 800 billion yen or more and operating profit of 200 billion yen or more by the end of the fiscal year of 2015.  In the HAYABUSA plan, Eisai will seek to establish a presence in each of the world's top 20 pharmaceutical markets in an effort to achieve its objective of making contributions to more than 500 million patients worldwide.  

Eisai in Oncology
Eisai is dedicated to discovering, developing and producing innovative oncology therapies that can make a difference and impact the lives of patients and their families. This passion for people is part of Eisai's human health care (hhc) mission, which strives for better understanding of the needs of patients and their families to increase the benefits health care provides. Our commitment to meaningful progress in oncology research, built on scientific expertise, is supported by a global capability to conduct discovery and preclinical research, and develop small molecules, therapeutic vaccines, and biologic and supportive care agents for cancer across multiple indications.

About Eisai in Epilepsy
Eisai is committed to developing and delivering highly beneficial new treatments to help improve the lives of people with epilepsy. The development of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) is a major strategic area for Eisai in the EMEA market.

In the European Union and Switzerland, Eisai currently has three marketed treatments including:

  • Zonegran® (zonisamide) as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalisation

  • Zebinix® (eslicarbazepine acetate) as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with partial-onset seizures, with or without secondary generalization

  • Inovelon® (rufinamide) for the adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome in patients >4 years

For more information please contact:
Sara Darwish
APCO Worldwide (JiWin Public Relations)
Tel: +971 4 3748368
Mobile: +971 50 3839342
Email:  sdarwish@apcoworldwide.com 

© Press Release 2012