Japanese Pharma Companies Ranked in 'Access to Medicine Index'

Global Ranking Shows More Transparency, More Programs for Low-income Countries

AMSTERDAM, June 20, 2010 - For the first time, Japanese pharmaceutical companies were ranked with
their U.S. and European counterparts on a global Index comparing companies'
efforts to make medicines available to the people in developing countries.
Overall, European drug companies are leading in this area, according to the
second Access to Medicine Index released today.

Compared to 2008, when the first Index was published, pharma companies
worldwide gave more insight into their policies and actions to increase
people's access to medicines in low-income countries, researchers said in a
report underpinning the new Index. They identified more industry initiatives
than two years ago, but also see room for improvement.

"The Index 2010 reveals important progress, if only because companies
have shown far greater willingness to open up. The Index shows great
improvements, especially in the areas of research and development, and
equitable pricing. At the same time, it shows that the industry as a whole
still has a long way to go," said Wim Leereveld, the Index's founder.

"The Access to Medicines Index independently assesses how individual
pharmaceutical companies perform in promoting universal access to essential
medicines, and is thus an important tool in improving performance," said Dr
Carissa Etienne, Assistant Director-General at the World Health Organization
(WHO).

The Access to Medicine Index ranks 20 of the world's largest
pharmaceutical companies on their efforts to make sure that medicines are
made for, and reach, people in developing countries. The Index encourages
drug companies to compete and offers investors and others a way to compare
their social responsibility records.

The Access to Medicine Index 2010 identifies GlaxoSmithKline (U.K.) as
current industry leader in making drugs and vaccines more accessible.
Following in its footsteps are Merck & Co. (U.S.), Novartis (Switzerland),
Gilead Sciences (U.S.), and Sanofi-Aventis (France).

In the Index 2010, six of the ten highest-ranking originator companies
are based in Europe. Japanese companies Eisai, Takeda, Astellas and Daiichi
Sankyo rank near the bottom.

Generic drug makers are ranked separately from originator companies.
Ranbaxy Laboratories (India) and Cipla (India) top the generics companies
ranking.

Note to reporters: for more information or interview requests, see www.atmindex.org or contact Sue-Lane Wood at Tel: +31-62-888-8965, E-mail: slwood at atmindex.org