For Immediate Release

Company name: DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED
Representative: Joji Nakayama, President and CEO
(Code no.: 4568, First Section, Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Please address inquiries to Noriaki Ishida, Corporate Officer,
Vice President, Corporate Communications Department
Telephone: +81-3-6225-1126
http://www.daiichisankyo.com/

Daiichi Sankyo Launches Four New Generic Drugs Through Its Daiichi Sankyo Espha Subsidiary

Tokyo, Japan (December 13, 2013) – Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) announced that its Japan generics subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo Espha, today launched two new generic drugs with two new active ingredients and two generic drugs with an additional standard.

 

Overview

1. Product names/therapeutic categories

Product name	Therapeutic category	Original brand name
Valaciclovir Tablets 500mg DSEP	Antiviral chemotherapeutic agent	Valtrex® Tablets 500
Azithromycin Tablets 250mg DSEP	15-membered-ring macrolide antibiotic	ZITHROMAC® Tablets 250mg
Additional standard Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablets 10mg DSEP Donepezil Hydrochloride OD Tablets 10mg DSEP	Anti-Alzheimer's agent	Aricept® Tablets 10mg Aricept® D Tablets 10mg

 

2. Product attributes

Daiichi Sankyo Espha has created innovative labeling on tablets and PTP sheets to prevent medical error and improve ease of use and hails these value added generics as “premium generics.” 

 

Tablets

- Printing on tablets (for Valaciclovir Tablets/ Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablets, Donepezil Hydrochloride OD Tablets)

   The product name, dosage per tablet and company name will be printed on both sides to be easily distinguishable.

   With a new inkjet printing method, it is now possible to print double-sided OD tablets as well.

 

- Tablet taste (Donepezil Hydrochloride OD Tablets)

   Daiichi Sankyo is working to improve medication adherence of OD tablets (oral dispersing tablets) through a dosage form design that reduces the bitter taste of the drug.

 

PTP packaging

- Pitch control (excluding Azithromycin Tablets)

   Through pitch control, it is possible to display the product name and dosage on each pill, making it easier for patients to recognize the pill even if it is taken out of the PTP sheet.

- Design that allows for easy identification (for all new items)

   Special markings on both sides of the PTP sheets allow for improved identification.

- GS1 data barcode (for all new items)

   The GS1 data barcode is marked on each tablet and each slit to prevent medication errors.

- PTP packaging within packaging for patients (for Azithromycin Tablets only)

   Daiichi Sankyo Espha has developed “packaging for patients,” which is equivalent to the standard item, in order to improve medication adherence. The package width has been trimmed, PTP sheets made easier to remove, and the material used takes into account disposal.

 

 

Images of DSEP tablets and PTP sheets

 

Valaciclovir Tablets 500mg DSEP

                                       

 

 

Azithromycin Tablets 250mg DSEP

                                                                                                                                                           PTP packaging for patients

                                                  

 

 

Donepezil Hydrochloride Tablets 10mg DSEP

                        

     

 

Donepezil Hydrochloride OD Tablets 10mg DSEP

                                            

   

 

 

About Daiichi Sankyo Espha

Daiichi Sankyo Espha was created in April 2010 to manufacture and market generic drugs and accommodate rising demand based on the spirit of the Daiichi Sankyo Group corporate philosophy* of supplying pharmaceuticals to address diverse medical needs. Daiichi Sankyo Espha strives to provide pharmaceuticals that provide peace of mind for users by fulfilling the most important pharmaceutical criteria of quality, information, and stable supply while delivering the economic benefits of generics.

 

Daiichi Sankyo Espha Company Overview

Company name: Daiichi Sankyo Espha Co., Ltd.

Established: April 1, 2010

Business: Manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals

Capital: 450 million yen

Representative: President Hiroto Yoshiwaka

Headquarters: 3-5-1, Nihonbashi, Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

 

*Daiichi Sankyo Group corporate philosophy

To contribute to the enrichment of quality of life around the world through the creation of innovative pharmaceuticals, and through the provision of pharmaceuticals addressing diverse medical needs.