OSKA, Japan--Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that Santen Oy, a wholly owned subsidiary in Finland, Tampere, submitted the marketing authorization application for glaucoma and ocular hypertension treatment DE-085 ( INN: Tafluprost) to 13 countries in Europe on April 2, 2007 (Europe time).

DE-085 is a prostaglandin drug candidate being studied for the reduction of intraocular pressure in primary open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension which is under co-development by Santen and Asahi Glass Co., Ltd., Tokyo. Santen is conducting pharmaceutical and clinical development, while Asahi Glass is responsible for manufacturing development of the active pharmaceutical ingredient.

Causing the major visual disturbance such as blindness and visual loss, and speculating that there are many untreated patients, early detection and early treatment of glaucoma is becoming an important issue. Santen expects Tafluprost will offer a new treatment option for glaucoma and patients, leading to their improved quality of life.

Meanwhile, Santen Pharmaceutical had applied for Manufacturing and Marketing Approval for Tafluprost to the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare on July 31,2006.