Study Shows Piclozotan Improves Both Dyskinesia and OFF Time in Parkinson's Disease Patients On Levodopa Therapy

Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. to Present Data At the Movement Disorder Society's
13th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders 

ROCHELLE PARK, N.J., May 14, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Asubio Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. will present new data on the efficacy and safety of Piclozotan in
improving both dyskinesia and OFF time in Parkinson's Disease (PD) patients on
levodopa who experience motor complications. Such motor complications may
substantially reduce the benefit of levodopa, the gold-standard of therapy. In
a two-day pilot study, Piclozotan increased dyskinesia-free ON time and reduced
OFF time in patients controlled on levodopa. Patients seemed to acclimate
rapidly to the main adverse events (nausea/vomiting, headache and dizziness) of
Piclozotan. Overall safety was consistent with other 5-HT1A agonists. "An agent
that improves both OFF time and dyskinesia would allow for better optimization
of levodopa, which would be of significant benefit to PD patients," said Dr.
Jacob Sage, MD, Professor of Neurology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical
School in New Brunswick, NJ, the study's Primary Investigator. The data will be
presented at the Movement Disorder Society's 13th International Congress of
Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders, June 7-11 in Paris, France.
Preclinical data supporting the clinical results will be also presented by
Asubio Pharma Co. Ltd. at this meeting. 

Piclozotan is an investigational serotonin (5HT1A) receptor agonist devoid of
dopamine antagonist activity, in early phase clinical development by Asubio
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 5-HT neurons may be a key source of unregulated dopamine
concentrations in the brain, which are thought to be the cause of motor
complications in PD. Co-administering Piclozotan with levodopa could inhibit
excessive 5-HT neuronal activity and may effectively treat both dyskinesia and
OFF time associated with levodopa use in patients with PD. Currently, no
treatment exists that can adequately treat one element of levodopa-induced
motor complications (dyskinesia or OFF time) without potentially exacerbating
the other. 

Piclozotan is available for licensing worldwide. For additional information,
contact Daina Cardillo at (203) 762-8833 or dcardillo@KLCpr.com. 

About Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Asubio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of Tokyo-based Asubio
Pharma Co., Ltd, a pharmaceutical business entity that is wholly owned by
Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. Established in the U.S. in June 1999, Asubio focuses
on the early stage clinical development of novel new chemical entities and
biologics discovered by its Japanese parent. For more information, visit
www.asubio.com. 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements about the
potential of the investigational compound Piclozotan and reflects Asubio's
current beliefs. However, as with any pharmaceutical compound under
development, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of
development and regulatory review. All statements, facts, information,
analyses, interpretations, and opinions contained in the report are provided
"As Is" and are made without representation or warranty of any kind by Asubio,
or their respective parents, affiliates, officers, employees, contractors or
business partners as to accuracy, completeness, usefulness, merchantability,
fitness for a particular purpose, or otherwise. There is no guarantee that
later studies and patient experience with Piclozotan will be consistent with
study findings to date. Asubio makes no guarantee, warranty, or assurances
concerning the future financial return of an existing or proposed product or
service related to the business alliance under evaluation. Asubio undertakes no
duty to update forward-looking statements, and does not provide or act as a
substitute for legal guidance and expertise. Piclozotan is being developed for
the treatment of motor complications associated with Parkinson's disease and
has not been approved in any country by any regulatory authority for any
indication. 

CONTACT:  Kovak-Likly Communications
          Daina Cardillo
          203-762-8833
          dcardillo@klcpr.com