Sosei to introduce NorLevo oral emergency contraceptive in Japan

Sosei Group Corporation ("Sosei"; TSE Mothers Index: 4565), the biopharmaceutical company, today announced that Sosei Co., Ltd., its wholly owned Japanese subsidiary, will launch its emergency contraceptive pill, NorLevo(R) TABLETS 0.75mg, tomorrow 24 May, through the distribution network of its commercialization partner, ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

NorLevo(R) is an oral emergency contraceptive, which is taken within 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse or contraceptive failure to prevent unwanted pregnancy. Its active ingredient, levonorgestrel, is listed as an essential drug by WHO.

Sosei acquired the exclusive development and distribution rights to the product in Japan and Australia from Laboratoire HRA Pharma in April 2001. NorLevo(R) was first launched in Europe in 1999 and is currently approved in some 50 countries. In Japan, Sosei was granted approval for NorLevo(R) in February 2011.

Sosei signed a distribution agreement with ASKA Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd in November 2009.

Shinichi Tamura, CEO of Sosei Group Corporation, commented: "We are very pleased to announce the launch of the first emergency contraceptive in Japan. We are proud that our first product has reached the market and that we can contribute to the health of Japanese women. These are important achievements for our company. Sosei will continue with its efforts to fulfil unmet medical needs in future."