Singapore, Mar 26, 2009: Japanese pharmaceutical major, Takeda announced the submission of an application of the additional indication of Takepron Capsules 15 and Takepron OD Tablets 15 to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, Japan. This will be for preventing onset of low-dose aspirin related gastric and duodenal ulcer. Takepron is a proton pump inhibitor discovered by Takeda and has been launched since 1992 in Japan.

According to the company, the number of patient taking low-dose aspirin for prevention of relapse of cerebral infarction or myocardial infarction is increasing with the aging of the population in Japan. However, there is no drug which has the indication for prevention of onset of low-dose aspirin ulcer in Japan. Takeda conducted phase III trial of Takepron for the treatment of Japanese patients who take low-dose aspirin in long period and submitted an application for an additional indication of prevention of onset of low-dose aspirin related gastric and duodenal ulcer based on the result of the trial.

Once this application is approved, Takeda expects to help patients taking aspirin with Takepron for prevention of onset of low-dose aspirin ulcer to allow extended use of low-dose aspirin. Takeda is pursuing every possibility of Takepron and continues the development for enhancing its value.