Announcement of the Discontinuation of the Development of KCT-0809, an Anti-Dry Eye Drug

Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head office: Matsumoto-city, Nagano ; Chairman and CEO: Mutsuo Kanzawa; "Kissei") announces its decision to discontinue the development of KCT-0809, a therapeutic drug for dry eye associated with Sjögren's syndrome.

Kissei has been engaged in the joint development of this drug with Teika Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head office: Toyama-city, Toyama ; "Teika"), that holds the use patent of ozagrel, an active ingredient of the drug. Since the results of the Phase III clinical study conducted in Japan failed to demonstrate the expected efficacy of this drug, Kissei cautiously discussed a future development policy with Teika and has decided to discontinue the development of this drug.

The impact of this decision on the company's financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 should be minimal.

《Reference》

About Dry eye associated with Sjögren's syndrome

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease (immune system abnormalities affecting healthy tissues of the body) that causes chronic inflammation of exocrine (secretion-producing) glands, such as the salivary and lacrimal (tear) glands. When functions of the salivary and lacrimal glands decline, consequently inhibiting the secretion of saliva and tears, the patient develops sicca symptoms such as dry mouth and dry eye.