FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No.06-11
March 27, 2006

Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President and CEO: Haruo Naito) today announced that the company has filed an application for a new indication of non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease for Pariet (generic name: rabeprazole sodium), a proton pump inhibitor, in Japan.

Non-erosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a disorder without evidence of mucosal injury such as erosion or ulcers in the esophagus during endoscopy with subjective symptoms including heartburn caused by reflux of gastric contents such as gastric acid into the esophagus. As with gastroesophageal reflux disease with mucosal injury to the esophagus, the disorder is characterized by strong heartburn and a significant decline in the quality of life (QOL). Accordingly, it is important to eliminate the subjective symptoms quickly and reliably and relieve the stress of the symptoms.

Eisai has already gained approval for this indication* in the U.S. and Europe, and the company now looks forward to improving the QOL of patients in Japan with this application.

Pariet has been shown to have a rapid onset of action and a reliable inhibitory effect on acid secretion related to stomach ulcers, duodenal ulcers and gastro-esophageal reflux disease, which are the indications already approved in Japan.

Pariet was launched initially in Japan in 1997 followed by Europe in 1998. The product began to be marketed under the trade name of AcipHex in the U.S. in 1999. Currently, it is available in 79 countries around the world.

Eisai will further strive to contribute to treatment of patients with acid-related diseases by improving the clinical value of Pariet as the result of this application.

Contacts:
Corporate Communications Department
Eisai Co., Ltd.
TEL: 81-3-3817-5120