Basilea Pharmaceutica AG / Basilea announces global partnership with Astellas for its antifungal isavuconazole processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. 

Basel, Switzerland, February 24, 2010 - Basilea (SIX:BSLN) announced today that
Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. has entered into a license,
co-development and co-promotion agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE:4503)
for Basilea's azole antifungal agent isavuconazole in phase III clinical
development for the treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal infections on
a worldwide basis, including an option for Japan.

Under the terms of the agreement, Basilea will receive an upfront payment of CHF
75 million and will be eligible to receive up to CHF 478 million in additional
payments on achievement of pre-specified development and sales milestones.
Basilea will also receive significant double-digit tiered royalties on sales.
Astellas is granted an exclusive right to commercialize isavuconazole whereas
Basilea retains an option to co-promote the product in the United States,
Canada, major European countries and the People's Republic of China. Basilea and
Astellas will jointly participate in the development of isavuconazole. Astellas
will lead the development and contribute the majority of the investments
required for completing the clinical development program investigating
isavuconazole in the treatment of patients with invasive fungal infections
caused byAspergillus or other filamentous fungi (mold infections) and Candida
fungi (yeast infections). Basilea will initially manage manufacturing. Astellas
has the right to take over the management of manufacturing and will bear
manufacturing costs for commercial supply and commercialization costs.

"Astellas has a successful track record in developing and commercializing
antifungals in the hospital sector internationally. We look forward to work
together with Astellas to achieve isavuconazole's full potential as a novel
therapeutic option for treating serious and life-threatening fungal infections.
This partnership further validates the unique and highly competitive profile of
isavuconazole and its potential as a best-in-class antifungal," said Dr. Anthony
Man, CEO Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. "The financial contribution from this
partnership allows us to further expand Basilea's commercial efforts in key
markets as needed as well as advance our promising pipeline projects."

"We are excited to be working with Basilea to develop and commercialize
isavuconazole for the treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal infections,"
said Masafumi Nogimori, President and CEO, Astellas Pharma Inc. "Astellas has
already experience in the development and marketing of the echinocandin
antifungal agent Mycamine (micafungin) worldwide and is committed to focus on
infectious diseases. This partnership is an important step to further expand our
business and to reinforce our franchise in infectious diseases."

About isavuconazole

Pre-clinical and clinical data generated to date indicate that isavuconazole has
the potential to overcome many limitations of current therapies for the
treatment of invasive fungal infections. Isavuconazole is given by intravenous
infusion or oral capsules with high oral bioavailability that provides an option
for intravenous-oral step-down. The drug has predictable and dose proportional
pharmacokinetics that are important to ensure adequate therapeutic drug levels
in patients with life-threatening fungal infections. Human studies to-date
suggest the potential for fewer clinical drug-drug interactions. The intravenous
dose form has the potential to be given safely to patients with renal
impairment.
The clinical program includes three international phase III trials with centers
in the U.S., Europe and other regions that target respectively, yeast infections
(candidemia / invasive candida infections), mold infections (invasive
aspergillosis) and finally rare molds and renally impaired patients with
aspergillosis.
Recently, an Independent Data Safety Monitoring Board recommended the
continuation of the phase III clinical trial of isavuconazole for the treatment
of invasiveAspergillus infections based on a futility analysis of the first 180
patients.
Isavuconazole has been granted fast track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA).

About invasive fungal infections

Invasive fungal infections are life-threatening. Immunocompromised individuals
like cancer or transplant patients are at special risk of acquiring fungal
infections, mainly caused byCandida and Aspergillus species and associated with
mortality rates between 30% and 90%. It has been shown that early treatment with
highly effective antifungals reduces patient mortality.

Conference call

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. invites you to participate in a conference call on
Wednesday, February 24, 4 p.m. (CET), during which the company will discuss
today's press release.

  Dial-in numbers are:

  +41 (0) 91 610 56 00   (Europe and ROW)

  +1 (1) 866 291 4166    (USA)

  +44 (0) 207 107 0611   (UK)


A playback will be available 1 hour after the conference call until Friday,
February 26, 6 p.m. (CET). Participants requesting a digital playback may dial:

  +41 (0) 91 612 4330    (Europe)

  +1 (1) 866 416 2558    (USA)

  +44 (0) 207 108 6233   (UK)

  and will be asked to enter the ID 10203  followed by the # sign.


About Basilea

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and listed on
the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX:BSLN). Basilea's integrated research and development
operations are currently focused on new antibacterial, antifungal and oncology
agents to fight drug resistance and on the development of dermatology drugs.
Basilea's products are targeted to satisfy high medical and patient needs in the
hospital and specialty care setting.
The company owns a diversified portfolio including two commercialized drugs
(Toctino®, ZEFTERA(TM)/ Zevtera(TM)) and one investigational drug
(isavuconazole) in phase III clinical development. Toctino® (alitretinoin) is
marketed in Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and is
approved in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and
Spain. Toctino® has been recommended for approval in 16 European countries.
Furthermore, a phase III clinical trial on alitretinoin for the treatment of
severe chronic hand eczema is ongoing in the U.S.
Ceftobiprole is marketed in Canada under the brand name ZEFTERA(TM) and in
Switzerland under Zevtera(TM). Basilea has set up commercial organizations in
Canada, France, Germany, the Nordics, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, while
it is building sales and marketing organizations in other countries to
commercialize alitretinoin.

About Astellas

Astellas Pharma Inc., located in Tokyo, Japan, is a pharmaceutical company
dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through the
provision of innovative and reliable pharmaceutical products. Astellas has
approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. The organization is committed to
becoming a global category leader by rapidly establishing a business model in
urology, immunology & infectious diseases, neuroscience, DM complications &
metabolic diseases and oncology. Astellas has discovered an over-active bladder
(OAB) medication, Vesicare® and an immunosuppressive agent, Prograf®
(tacrolimus), which have enabled them to become an established leader in both
urology and transplant. For more information on Astellas Pharma Inc., please
visitwww.astellas.com/en <http://www.astellas.com/en>.

Disclaimer

This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking
statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such
statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other
factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance
or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from
any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this
communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.

For further information, please contact:
+----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|Media Relations                         |Investor Relations                   |
+----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
|Adesh Kaul                              |Barbara Zink, Ph.D., MBA             |
|Head Public Relations &                 |Head Corporate Development           |
|Corporate Communications                |+41 61 606 1233                      |
|+41 61 606 1460                         |                                     |
|media_relations@basilea.com             |investor_relations@basilea.com       |
|    |                                   |
+----------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
This press release can be downloaded fromwww.basilea.com
<http://www.basilea.com/>

The press release can also be downloaded from the following link:


[HUG#1387836]



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Grenzacherstrasse 487
P.O Box Basel Switzerland

WKN: A0B9GA;ISIN: CH0011432447;

    Press release (PDF): http://hugin.info/134390/R/1387836/346124.pdf