HATFIELD, England, September 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Globalsoliddose manufacturing forEisai'snew epilepsy medicine Fycompa (perampanel) to start at 100 millionUKbased,purpose built,EMEA research and commercial regional headquarters

Eisai has announced that their UK production facility has received its licence for solid dose manufacturing for their new first in class partial epilepsy treatment, Fycompa (perampanel). Discovered and developed in the UK and Japan, Fycompa was launched first globally in the UK on 12 September 2012. Manufacturing will take place at the company's European, Middle-East, Africa (EMEA) and Russia headquarters, situated in Hatfield, UK, representing a significant boost to both the local economy and the wider UK life-sciences environment.

The investment is linked to a comprehensive neurosciences research and development (R&D) programme focusing on illnesses affecting the brain such as dementia and epilepsy. In addition to bolstering the company's product discovery, packaging and supply infrastructure, the increased investment will support a host of partnership initiatives between the NHS, UK academic institutions and commercial partners. Eisai recently presented phase I data for Alzheimer's Disease modifying treatment, the UK/Japan discovered BACE inhibitor E2609, confirming proof of mechanism for preventing amyloid beta by inhibiting BACE. This is added to the continuing development of novel monoclonal antibody BAN2401, also a disease modifying treatment for Alzheimer's Disease targeting amyloid beta protofibrils. Today's announcement further cements the UK's role as a major centre of this Japanese pharmaceutical company's commercial growth strategy and its continuing commitment to dementia and neuroscience research. Eisai has one of the largest private dementia research units in the UK. Around 200 out of 500 employees are currently employed in R&D related positions across multiple therapeutic areas at Eisai's Hatfield site.

Gary Hendler, President and CEO, Eisai EMEA &Russiaexplained: "This exciting announcement reaffirms Eisai's commitment to and recognition of the unique Life Sciences environment present in the UK today. Manufacturing Fycompa in Hatfield bucks a general trend of decline for pharmaceutical manufacturing in this country." He continued, "It has now become unusual for a company to discover, develop, manufacture and launch a new medicine in the UK. If we want to reverse this trend there is an increasing need for the NHS to embrace these new therapies, encouraging better patient outcomes, and faster uptake of new medicines. Commercial and competitive price freedom around a new product's launch is vital to tackle traditionally low and slow patient access to innovative medicines."

The announcement marks the initiation of the commercial manufacture of Eisai's new medicine in the UK for the treatment of partial epilepsy, Fycompa (perampanel), at the company's EMEA Knowledge Centre (EKC) in Hatfield UK. It represents an exciting milestone for both the product and the company, marking the first time Eisai has manufactured the global supply of a medicine outside of its home country. David Willetts, Minister for Universities and Science, formally opened the production facility for this medicine on Monday morningas part of an official visit to the Eisai site.

Discussing the milestone announcement, Rt Hon.David Willetts commented: "In the Strategy for UK Life Sciences the Government set out ambitious plans for the UK to be the best place in the world for companies to invest in innovation. This move by Eisai is an excellent example of the continued success of the UK's life sciences industry and will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs. New investments of this nature greatly improve discovery, development and uptake of innovative new medicines in the UK, bringing benefits for patients and driving long-term, sustainable growth."

Sales of Fycompa are expected to top 500 million US dollars by 2015, rising to $1bn in the years beyond that. As a result of Eisai's increased investment and the subsequent production of medicines at company's purpose built Hatfield plant, the company has already announced and is recruiting for additional quality control and production engineering colleagues to support their up-scaled activities.

With four marketed anti-epileptic drugs, Eisai currently market more epilepsy products in Europe than any other company and are aiming to be the number one epilepsy company by sales by 2015.

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Japanese Pharmaceutical Company Announces Transfer of Global Manufacturing for New Epilepsy Medicine to the UK