May 21, 2001

Agreement concluded for joint sales of Vitaject prefilled multivitamin syringe

Terumo Corporation
Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.

Tokyo-based Terumo Corporation has concluded a marketing agreement with Tokyo-based Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd. for Vitaject, a Terumo-produced multiple vitamin preparation for use in total parenteral nutrition. The contract, concluded on May 21, paves the way for joint sales of Vitaject by Terumo and Nippon Kayaku.

Vitaject is a multiple vitamin preparation packaged in a prefilled syringe, for administration in combination with total parenteral nutrition. Parenteral nutrition is a method of providing nutrition for patients who cannot take food orally, in which highly concentrated I.V. solutions are administered directly into a blood vessel. In contrast to traditional vitamin preparations packaged in vials or ampoules, prefilled syringes eliminate the need to dissolve or draw up the preparations into a syringe, significantly reducing the risk of bacterial and other contamination. The contents are clearly labeled on the outside of the syringe, to help prevent mistaken administration of drugs, a problem of recent concern in the workplace.

Introduced by Terumo in December 1999, sales of Vitaject have grown quickly, currently accounting for approximately 16% of the market for this type of product. Terumo is also developing and marketing other prefilled syringes, including drugs for emergency use and combination drugs for use in I.V. therapy.

Nippon Kayaku, manufacturer of the Neolamin Multi V vitamin preparation, holds the largest share of general vitamin preparations for use in total parenteral nutrition. The addition of Vitaject to the Nippon Kayaku product line will further strengthen its position in the market.

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