Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, is now majority-owned by Roche and is playing an important role in Roche's efforts to develop and promote new biologics.

Both companies at the time of the Roche purchase had biologics used to treat anemia, and Chugai subsequently played an important role in development of the Roche second generation anemia biologic CERA.

Chugai also is developing Actemra (tocilizumab), a new humanized anti-human interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor monoclonal antibody whose novel mechanism of action provides a new and effective form of treatment for rheumatoid arthritis.

The company's leading biologics are:

Epogin (epoetin beta). Epogin is marketed in Japan for the treatment of anemia in patients with kidney disease and undergoing dialysis.

Neutrogin (Granocyte). Neutrogin is a recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rG-CSF) used to reduce the risk of infection in certain leukemia and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and in bone marrow transplant patients.

*Information above taken from materials provided by Chugai.