No. 7784 November 22
Suntory Hakushu Distillery Sponsoring Events

Suntory Hakushu Distillery is inviting people to join its 'Whisky Blending Seminar' and 'Christmas Fair' events to be held between December 1 and 25.
Whisky Blending Seminar:
After an inspection of the whisky making process, participants will be able to blend their own original whisky and bring it home.
Date: Every Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday between Dec. 1 and 5
Time: Mon. & Fri.: 13:00-15:00, Sat. & Sun: 10:30-12:30 & 13:00-15:00
Fee: 2,000 yen

Christmas Fair:
Participants will have an opportunity to try whisky-based cocktails after taking a tour of the plant's whisky-making process. Tasting of premium-grade whiskies Hibiki Aged 30 Years (worth of 2,000 yen/ 20 ml) and Century aged 21 Years (1,200 yen/ 20 ml) is also available as an optional program. Various whiskies and original distillery goods will be given away as Christmas gifts by lottery.
Date & Time: Everyday 9:30-16:30 (except for Dec. 2 & 3)
Fee: Free of Charge

To apply, call the Suntory Hakushu Distillery Information hotline at 0551-35-2211.

Suntory Foods
News Release November 17
Suntory to Ink Vending Machine Deal with JT

Suntory and Japan Tobacco Inc. have joined hands in order to expand sales of their respective soft drink beverage brands. Under a deal to be signed by both firms, Suntory soft drinks will be sold in vending machines belonging to JT affiliate Japan Beverage Inc.

Specifically, Suntory and JT beverages will be given top marketing priority in Japan Beverage vending machines which sell multiple brand products.

At the same time, Suntory Foods Ltd. will accept a third-party allotment of new Japan Beverage shares worth 5 billion yen. The allotment will lift Suntory Food's equity stake in Japan Beverage to about 16%.

No. 7782 November 16
Suntory and Chugai Pharmaceutical Agrees on Co-development of an Osteoporosis Drug

Suntory Ltd. (Head Office: Kita-ku, Osaka/ President: Shinichiro Torii) (Suntory) and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.(Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo/ President: Osamu Nagayama) (Chugai) announced today that both parties have reached an agreement to co-develop Suntory's Nasal rhPTH(1-34), a recombinant human parathyroid hormone as a treatment of osteoporosis. Suntory will provide the trial data to Chugai and manufacture bulks, and Chugai will exclusively develop and market Nasal rhPTH(1-34), worldwide.

Nasal rhPTH(1-34) is a drug which Suntory has enabled large scale productions utilizing its genetic recombination technology, making its nasal administration possible first in the world, and is currently in phase one of clinical trial.

Parathyroid hormone(PTH) is one of the calcium-regulating hormones, which is identified to promote a formation of bone when human PTH is administered to human or animal. It is considered to have a high potential for the treatment of osteoporosis. From Phase 1 clinical trial results, it is expected to be effective in increasing bone mass. Also, as a unique point of this drug, nasal administration, as opposed to injection(subcutaneous), will reduce the patients' burden, such as attending hospitals.

The number of patients with osteoporosis is increasing annually, caused by the aging population, and it is estimated that Japanese patients with osteoporosis will grow to exceed 10 million in the year 2000. A decrease in bone mass causes fracture rate to rise, resulting in elderlies to be bedridden. According to the research in 1995, 11.5% of the people who became bedridden were caused by fracture, second to apoplexy(20.3%). Also, the direct cost for osteoporosis-related treatment in Japan was 1,310.2 billion yen in 1992, and adding the indirect cost, such as cost for care-taking, will sum up to 1,497.4 billion yen, reaching 6% of the total medical expense of the country. In this environment, the expectation for a new osteoporosis treatment is quite high, from the medical economics perspective as well.

By this agreement, Suntory will be able to distribute its biotech product to the world utilizing its technology acquired through its products such as Hanp® (a treatment for acute heart failure). Chugai will further strengthen the specialized bone area, adding Nasal rhPTH(1-34) in its product portfolio, joining Alfarol®, the vitamin D derivative which is currently marketed, hydrochloride raloxifene, which is in co-development with Eli Lilly Japan, and ED-71, which is expected to be the post-Alfarol.

Contacts:
Suntory Ltd. Public Relations Department : +81-(0)3-3470-1104
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Public Relations Office:

Human Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

The level of calcium in human body is controlled by three calcium-regulating hormones: parathyroid hormone(PTH), active vitamin D and calcitonin. These calcium-regulating hormones not only works on bone, kidney, or small intestine to maintain a balanced level of calcium in the body, but also strictly control the level of calcium in the blood by interacting with each other.

PTH is a peptide hormone consisting of 84 amino acids, having an active portion in its peptide(PTH(1-34)) of 34 amino acids. Nasal rhPTH(1-34) is made by transforming the active portion into a drug. The effect of PTH on bone has been reported by several results of pre-clinical trials in 1990s, that it is much stronger than the existing drugs, and also, in recent clinical trials, PTH has significantly increased bone mineral density and reduced the bone fracture rate. However, since PTH is a peptide hormone, these trials have all been done by subcutaneous injection. Also, while the majority of the existing drugs for osteoporosis is based on the mechanism of inhibiting bone resorption, PTH works on osteoblast, increasing the bone mineral density by uniquely promoting bone formation. Nasal rhPTH(1-34) not only reduces patient's burden, but possesses a unique action mechanism and is expected to have a significantly higher efficacy than the existing drugs, which enables it to greatly contribute to the medical field.

No. 7781 November 14
Suntory Introducing PEPSI in Commemorative Cans

Starting on Dec. 5, Suntory will begin marketing PEPSI in specially designed aluminum cans that mark the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the new millenium. Each 500 ml can features one of four colorful drawings and is priced at 140 yen.

No. 7780 November 14
Suntory to Launch Cocktail Bar CB

Starting November 28, Suntory will begin selling "Cocktail Bar CB," a selection of four new flavors, which are being added to the company's popular "Cocktail Bar" line of bottled cocktails."Cocktail Bar CB" consists of: Cassis Dew (Cassis & Grapefruits flavor), Snow Bunny (Strawberry & Ice Cream flavor), Air Turn (Grape Fruits & Coconut flavor) and Extreme (Cola & Lemon flavor). A 250 ml bottle of each product will retail for 210 yen.

No. 7779 November 13
Suntory to Import Grand Marnier

Suntory has reached an agreement with French distillery Marnier-Lapostolle to import the firm's world-famous premium orange liqueur Grand Marnier. Suntory will start taking orders for Grand Marnier products, including Cordon Rouge, from December 5. Actual sales will start from January 5. Suntory plans to sell 27,000 cases of Grand Marnier the first year.

No. 7778 November 10
Suntory Museum of Art to Exhibit Hagiyaki

From January 5 until February 12, Suntory Museum of Art will hold an exhibition, dubbed 'Tradition & Innovation of Hagiyaki Over 400 Years'. The exhibition consists of 113 items, including tea cups, bowls, jugs, vases and objets.

The museum is open daily (except Mondays) from 10:00 to 17:00 (Friday until 19:00). Admission is 1,000 yen for adults, 800 yen for high school and university students, and 600 yen for junior high and primary school students.

No. 7777 November 7
Suntory Brandy V.O Consumer Campaign

Suntory intends to boost its sales of Brandy V.O by launching a promotional campaign from the end of November. During the one-month campaign, a complimentary stamp featuring an angel and three messages ('thank you', 'hello' and 'I love you') will come with every 640 ml bottle of Brandy V.O, which sells for 1,000 yen.

No. 7776 November 7
Suntory to Market Shochu Hatsuyume

Suntory will start selling Hatsuyume shochu on December 19, just in time for the New Year season. Hatsuyume is specially distilled with 100% wheat and its red and white package features a crane and turtle, which are symbols of fortune. A 1.8 liter paper pack of Hatsuyume, containing 25% alcohol, will retail for 1,460 yen.

No. 7775 November 7
Suntory to Launch New Totteoki Kajitsu no Osake Items

Suntory will market Canadian Cassis-Shu and Sicilian Blood Orange-Shu only for the winter season from November 21. The products will be added to the Totteoki Kajitsu no Osake fruit liquor series. A 250 ml can of both products will retail for 194 yen each.

No. 7774 November 7
Suntory to Add Blueberry Flavor to Super Chu-Hi line

Suntory will expand its popular Super Chu-Hi line by introducing Super Chu-Hi Blueberry on November 21. An estimated 10 million cases of Super Chu-Hi had been sold by September this year, surpassing last year's total. A 350 ml can of Super Chu-Hi Blueberry will retail for 140 yen, while a 500 ml can will sell for 190 yen.

No. 7773 November 6
Suntory Completes New Distribution Center

Suntory completed construction of a new distribution center in Hokkaido on November 6. The new center consolidates a number of distribution bases that had been scattered about the region. The Hokkaido center will be responsible for mainly distributing spirits, beer, wine and food products.

In response to consumer demand, Suntory has made an effort over the past 10 years to increase the capacity of its distribution centers.

No. 7772 November 1
German Wine Sets New Record at Auction

A bottle of Weingut Robert Weil wine sold for a record DM 5,800 (approx: 290,000 yen) at auction in Germany. The wine, dubbed "Trockenbeeren-auslese Gold Cap," was bottled in 1999 and is made of special noble rot grapes. The sales price set a new record in the younger vintage category at an auction held by the German Premium Wine Association in Rheigau, Germany on September 23, 2000.

Suntory assumed management of Weingut Robert Weil in 1988. The winery was originally established in 1868 in Rheigau, Germany and is one of the country's best known vintners.