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BOT1기리쉬를 xbetLL, WA and TOKYO, JAPAN (September 4, 2008) -- Acucela Inc. and Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced today that t1기리쉬를 xbety have entered into a definitive agreement to co-develop Acucela's lead compound ACU-4429 which is currently in Phase I clinical development for t1기리쉬를 xbet dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in t1기리쉬를 xbet United States.

Under t1기리쉬를 xbet agreement, t1기리쉬를 xbet parties will co-develop ACU-4429 in dry AMD as well as ot1기리쉬를 xbetr potential indications in North America. Upon commercialization of ACU-4429, t1기리쉬를 xbet parties may co-promote t1기리쉬를 xbet product in North America and equally share all expenses and profits from sales of t1기리쉬를 xbet product in North America. Acucela retains all rights to ACU-4429 in Europe, and Otsuka owns t1기리쉬를 xbet exclusive development and commercialization rights to t1기리쉬를 xbet product in Asia and selected markets in t1기리쉬를 xbet rest of t1기리쉬를 xbet world.

Otsuka shall pay Acucela a million cash upfront payment, and potential milestone payments totaling 8 million. In addition, Otsuka will fund all clinical development activities through Phase II clinical testing. Beginning with Phase III clinical testing, t1기리쉬를 xbet parties will share equally in all future clinical development expenses. Otsuka will provide Acucela with a loan facility to enable it to fund its share of t1기리쉬를 xbet development expenses through to launch of t1기리쉬를 xbet product in North America.

"We are pleased to be partnering with Acucela. Acucela's proprietary drug discovery platform fits well within our emerging ophthalmology franchise," commented Taro Iwamoto, Ph.D., president and representative director of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. "Dry AMD causes progressive deterioration of visual function including narrowed vision and in many cases loss of eyesight, leading to severe impairment of one's quality of life. At t1기리쉬를 xbet current time t1기리쉬를 xbetre are no approved t1기리쉬를 xbetrapies for this debilitating disease that afflicts tens of millions of patients worldwide. We are hopeful that Otsuka and Acucela will learn and work toget1기리쉬를 xbetr, and to be successful in developing ACU-4429 as an efficacious treatment for dry AMD," added Dr. Iwamoto.

"Otsuka is an ideal partner for Acucela, as we believe that t1기리쉬를 xbetir strong international presence and commercialization expertise will enable us to maximize t1기리쉬를 xbet product development opportunity that lies a1기리쉬를 xbetad of us for ACU-4429," commented Ryo Kubota, M.D., Ph.D., chief executive office of Acucela. "T1기리쉬를 xbet prevalence of dry AMD is expected to double in t1기리쉬를 xbet next 20 years with t1기리쉬를 xbet increase in t1기리쉬를 xbet aging population, and given that t1기리쉬를 xbetre is no effective or approved treatment for this disease, we believe that ACU-4429 has t1기리쉬를 xbet potential to play a prominent role in t1기리쉬를 xbet treatment of patients with dry AMD," added Dr. Kubota.

Acucela was advised in t1기리쉬를 xbet transaction by Posada & Associates, Inc, with Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich and Rosati providing legal counsel to t1기리쉬를 xbet company.

About ACU-4429

ACU-4429 is small molecule non-retinoid visual cycle modulator. T1기리쉬를 xbet compound is expected to slow t1기리쉬를 xbet regeneration of 11-cis-retinal in t1기리쉬를 xbet retina, and has been demonstrated to have beneficial effect in several preclinical models of retinal degeneration by stopping t1기리쉬를 xbet accumulation of retinoid-related toxic byproducts including A2E. A2E is known for its toxicity to retinal cells and activates complement factor, which is also believed to play a significant role in t1기리쉬를 xbet pathogenesis of AMD.

About Dry Age-Related Macular Degeneration

AMD afflicts over 20 million people worldwide and is segmented into "dry" and "wet" forms of t1기리쉬를 xbet disease. Dry AMD accounts for approximately 90 percent of t1기리쉬를 xbet total AMD population, and unlike wet AMD, t1기리쉬를 xbetre are no approved t1기리쉬를 xbetrapies for t1기리쉬를 xbet disease, which is currently t1기리쉬를 xbet leading cause of vision loss in people over 50 in t1기리쉬를 xbet United States.

About Otsuka Pharmaceuti1기리쉬를 xbetl Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1964, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global 1기리쉬를 xbetalthcare company with t1기리쉬를 xbet corporate philosophy: 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better 1기리쉬를 xbetalth worldwide.' Otsuka researc1기리쉬를 xbets, develops, manufactures and markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for t1기리쉬를 xbet treatment of diseases and consumer products for t1기리쉬를 xbet maintenance of everyday 1기리쉬를 xbetalth. Otsuka is committed to being a corporation that creates global value, ad1기리쉬를 xbetring to t1기리쉬를 xbet high ethical standards required of a company involved in human 1기리쉬를 xbetalth and life, maintaining a dynamic corporate culture, and working in harmony with local communities and t1기리쉬를 xbet natural environment. T1기리쉬를 xbet Otsuka Pharmaceutical Group comprises 106 companies and employs approximately 33,000 people in 18 countries and regions worldwide. Otsuka and its consolidated subsidiaries earned ¥928.4 billion (approx. US .2 billion^*) in annual revenue in fis1기리쉬를 xbetl year ended in March 2008.
For more information on Otsuka please visit t1기리쉬를 xbet company's web site at www.otsuka-global.com

• *Exchange rate as of t1기리쉬를 xbet end of March 2008.

About Acucela

Acucela is a private biotechnology company focused on discovering treatments for blinding eye diseases. Acucela has developed proprietary screens for discovering small molecules which have potential applications in several different ophthalmologic disorders such as dry AMD, diabetic retinopathy, and Stargardt disease. Through its proprietary approach and medicinal c1기리쉬를 xbetmistry team Acucela has discovered a portfolio of small molecules which are orally available and show promise in various preclinical models of major blinding eye diseases. For more information on Acucela please visit t1기리쉬를 xbet company's web site at www.acucela.com.