EISAI PICKS UK SITE AS HEADQUARTERS FOR EUROPEAN EXPANSION

Eisai has established a strategic business hub in Europe with the culmination of negotiations for a site in the Hatfield Business Park north of London where the Japanese drugmaker intends to construct a new manufacturing site.

The company will consolidate its European business operations, including research and discovery, clinical development, production, sales and headquarter operations at the Hatfield location, according to Eisai. The company is adding the R&D function to the site to expand and strengthen Eisai London Research Laboratories, a subsidiary located at the University of London where the company is working on a new chemical compound targeting neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's, epilepsy and multiple sclerosis. The company will begin production and R&D activities for drug discovery in 2008. Eisai plans to invest approximately 15 billion yen in the project.

Eisai decided to make the strategic move because it considers Europe an area with a high potential for pharmaceutical market growth and a system of advanced scientific technology and clinical development. The Japanese company said it believes the establishment of a strategic business hub in Europe will enable it to create a "seamless value chain" that will allow it to further improve the efficiency, productivity and quality of its products.

Eisai has already set up sales subsidiaries in various parts of Europe including the U K, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden as part of its push to accelerate sales in the region.