Discovered and developed by Eisai, eritoran is believed to block activation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). TLR4 is part of the innate immune system and, when it is activated, TLR4 may play an important role in the course of severe sepsis.

Each year, severe sepsis strikes approximately 750,000 people in the US alone, - more than breast cancer, colon cancer and AIDS combined - with a mortality rate of 30-35 percent (depending on population studied). Worldwide, sepsis affects 18 million people every year.

Eisai's research and development efforts regarding eritoran and severe sepsis illustrate the company's human health care mission, which is to address unmet medical needs and increase benefits to patients and their families.

SOURCE Eisai Inc.