TOKYO - Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) announced that it has entered into a license agreement for worldwide non-exclusive rights of several Chugai's antibody engineering technologies with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly).

Under the terms of agreement, Lilly will receive the rights to use Chugai's antibody engineering technologies for their research activities to develop next-generation COVID-19 treatments and the rights for the development and marketing of therapeutic antibodies applying the technologies.

'Healthcare related companies are collaborating to develop therapeutic agents and vaccines against COVID-19, which has been affecting many people's health and daily life and also the economy and society. The need to accelerate this development is essential,' said Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai's President and COO. 'Lilly will start utilizing Chugai's proprietary antibody engineering technologies for their R&D activities to create an antibody against COVID-19. By providing Chugai's antibody engineering technologies, we have high hopes that it will lead to Lilly's creation of a novel treatment and the expansion of treatment options for COVID-19.'

'Lilly is moving at top speed and exploring various therapeutic solutions to combat COVID-19,' said William Heath, Ph.D., senior vice president of Lilly's Medicines Innovation Hub. 'Chugai's time extension technology allows for the creation of therapeutic antibodies with extended half-lives and expands the range of utility for these molecules to include use in potential prevention treatments.'

About Chugai

Chugai Pharmaceutical is one of Japan's leading research-based pharmaceutical companies with strengths in biotechnology products. Chugai, based in Tokyo, specializes in prescription pharmaceuticals and is listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As an important member of the Roche Group, Chugai is actively involved in R&D activities in Japan and abroad. Specifically, Chugai is working to develop innovative products which may satisfy the unmet medical needs.

Contact:

Tomoko Shimizu

Tel: +81-3-3273-0881

Email: pr@chugai-pharm.co.jp

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