Helsinn and Mundipharma Sign New Contract for Palonosetron in Asian Countries

Helsinn's Second-Generation 5-HT3 RA Aloxi Expands its Presence in Asia Through the Agreement Signed With Mundipharma

LUGANO, Switzerland, July 6, 2010 - Helsinn Healthcare SA and Mundipharma International
Corporation Ltd. announce the signature of a Distribution and Licensing
Agreement for Helsinn's product palonosetron in Malesia, Philippines and
Singapore.

Aloxi(R) is a second generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonist
which demonstrated a long-lasting action in the prevention of
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) following therapy in patients
with cancer. A single intravenous dose of palonosetron (0.25 mg) provides
better protection from CINV than first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.

The registration process is expected to start very soon and
after the recent launch in Japan, this new important Agreement opens new
perspectives in other countries in the area.

"With the signature of this Agreement a further, significant
number of Asian cancer patients will have a new important therapeutic option
for the control of this impairing condition" stated Dr. Riccardo Braglia,
Helsinn's Group CEO. "Mundipharma owns a strong expertise in cancer
supportive care and has a highly respected reputation in the hospital field
through its current product portfolio, in which Aloxi(R) will play a key
complementary role" he concluded.

Henrik Glarbo, Regional Managing Director for Mundipharma Asia
Pacific said, "Aloxi(R) represents an important advancement in the
improvement of outcomes and the quality of life for patients in Malaysia, the
Philippines and Singapore requiring treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea
and vomiting (CINV). We are very excited about the addition of Aloxi(R) to
our product portfolio in Malaysia, the Philippines and Singapore."

About Palonosetron (Aloxi(R), Onicit(R), Paloxi(R))

Palonosetron (palonosetron hydrochloride) is a second
generation 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonist, developed for the prevention of
chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with cancer, with
a long half-life of 40 hours and at least 30 times higher receptor binding
affinity than currently available compounds. Palonosetron demonstrates, in
clinical trials and clinical practice, a unique long-lasting action in the
prevention of CINV. The product has shown to be effective in preventing both
acute and delayed CINV in patients receiving moderately emetogenic
chemotherapy (MEC). A single intravenous dose of palonosetron provides better
protection from CINV than first-generation 5-HT3 receptor antagonists
throughout a 5-day post-chemotherapy period*. Palonosetron is contraindicated
in patients known to have hypersensitivity to the drug or any of its
components. The most commonly reported adverse reactions in CINV trials with
palonosetron were headache (9 percent) and constipation (5 percent), and they
were similar to the comparators. Palonosetron has been developed by the
Helsinn Group in Switzerland and today it is marketed as Aloxi(R), Onicit(R),
and Paloxi(R) in more than 50 countries world-wide. Palonosetron, marketed as
Aloxi(R), is the leading brand in the USA within the CINV Day of Chemo
segment, and it is steadily growing in the European markets.

For more information about palonosetron, please visit the
website: www.aloxi.com

*This sentence refers to Moderately Emetogenic Chemotherapy
(MEC) setting.

About Mundipharma International Corporation Limited

Mundipharma and its independent associated companies are
privately owned companies and joint ventures covering the world's
pharmaceutical markets. The companies are dedicated to bringing to patients
with severe and debilitating diseases the benefits of novel treatment options
in fields such as severe pain, oncology, respiratory disease, anti- septics
and laxatives. For more information: www.mundipharma.asia

About the Helsinn Group

Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with
headquarters in Lugano, Switzerland, and subsidiaries in Ireland and USA.
Helsinn's unique business model is focused on the licensing of
pharmaceuticals and medical devices in therapeutic niche areas. The Group
in-licenses early stage new chemical entities, completes their development
from the performance of pre-clinical/clinical studies and Chemistry,
Manufacturing and Control (CMC), development, to the filing for and
attainment of their market approval worldwide. Helsinn's products are sold
directly, through the Group subsidiaries, or eventually out-licensed to its
network of local marketing and commercial partners, selected for their deep
in-market knowledge and know-how, and assisted and supported with a full
range of product and scientific management services, including commercial,
regulatory, financial, legal and medical marketing advice. The active
pharmaceutical ingredients and the finished dosage forms are manufactured at
Helsinn's cGMP facilities in Switzerland and Ireland, and supplied
worldwide to its customers. Helsinn is the worldwide licensor of palonosetron
and of the original nimesulide, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) distributed in more than 50 countries worldwide. Helsinn, with a
workforce of around 438 employees in Switzerland, Ireland and USA, reported
a 2009 turnover of over CHF 305.6 million (management accounts), with over
20% of this turnover invested in R&D. Helsinn covers 85 countries worldwide.

For more information about Helsinn Group, please visit the
website: www.helsinn.com

    Contact person at Helsinn Healthcare SA:

    Paolo Ferrari
    Head of International Marketing
    Helsinn Healthcare SA
    Ph: +41-91-985-21-21.
    info-hhc@helsinn.com

    Contact person at Mundipharma:

    Tian Wee NG
    Regional Marketing Director
    Mundipharma Pte Ltd
    Ph: +65-65111165
    Enquiry@mundipharma.com.sg

Contact person at Helsinn Healthcare SA: Paolo Ferrari, Head of International Marketing, Helsinn Healthcare SA, Ph: +41-91-985-21-21., info-hhc at helsinn.com . Contact person at Mundipharma: Tian Wee NG, Regional Marketing Director, Mundipharma Pte Ltd, Ph: +65-65111165, Enquiry at mundipharma.com.sg .