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**Strengthening Prescription Dermatology Collaboration and Expanding Treatment Options for Axillary Hyperhidrosis**

Taipei / Osaka — Orient EuroPharma Co., Ltd. (4120.TW) today announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with Maruho Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatological prescription medicines. The two parties have completed a signing ceremony in Kyoto, Japan, under which Orient EuroPharma has formally obtained the relevant rights to Rapifort, a prescription dermatology product, for the Taiwan market. Through this collaboration, both companies aim to promote the development of Rapifort in Taiwan’s dermatology market and provide dermatologists and patients with clinically meaningful treatment options.

Rapifort is a prescription medicine primarily used in the field of dermatology and is applied in the management of axillary hyperhidrosis (Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis). This condition is caused by excessive activation of the sympathetic nervous system, leading to overproduction of sweat from local sweat glands, and can significantly impair patients’ quality of life. Clinical observations indicate that axillary hyperhidrosis is one of the more common yet historically under-recognised forms of primary hyperhidrosis, with symptoms that can substantially affect daily activities, social interactions, and overall well-being. As a result, there remains an unmet need for effective and appropriate treatment options.

Rapifort offers a topical treatment option with stable and sustained clinical efficacy, contributing to meaningful improvements in patients’ quality of life. Its dosing regimen allows for flexibility, including daily or intermittent use as appropriate. Compared with existing treatment approaches, aluminium-based antiperspirants may show variable effectiveness, while botulinum toxin injections can provide longer-lasting results but require injection by doctors and may be associated with injection-related discomfort and inter-individual variability.

According to international market research reports published in 2024, the global hyperhidrosis treatment market is expected to grow from approximately USD 693 million in 2023 to nearly USD 1.16 billion by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.89%, indicating sustained long-term growth potential. Hyperhidrosis can be broadly categorised into primary and secondary forms. Epidemiological studies suggest that primary hyperhidrosis affects approximately 1%–3% of the general population. Based on this prevalence, it is estimated that Taiwan may have several hundred thousand potential patients, highlighting that hyperhidrosis is not a rare medical condition but a dermatological disease with substantial clinical demand.

Under the terms of the collaboration, Orient EuroPharma will leverage its extensive experience in Taiwan’s dermatology prescription pharmaceutical market to lead local market development and commercial activities for Rapifort. Maruho will continue to provide its expertise in dermatological drug research and clinical development. Through close collaboration, both parties aim to support the steady and sustainable development of Rapifort in the Taiwan market.

Founded in 1915, Maruho is a Japanese dermatology-focused pharmaceutical company with a history spanning more than a century. The company has long been dedicated to clinical research and market development of dermatological prescription medicines and holds a key position within Japan’s dermatology pharmaceutical market. Its products are widely recognised by the Japanese dermatological community for their quality and scientific credibility. Rapifort represents one of the important outcomes of Maruho’s collaboration with Journey Medical Corporation, a U.S.-based pharmaceutical company, and is regarded as a representative product in the field of dermatological treatment, reflecting Maruho’s research philosophy centred on clinical needs.

Orient EuroPharma has long focused on dermatology and aesthetic-related pharmaceutical products and treatment solutions, supported by a comprehensive regulatory, medical affairs, and professional commercial team. The company continues to actively collaborate with international dermatology pharmaceutical partners to expand its dermatology portfolio. This partnership with Maruho further reflects the recognition by leading international dermatology-focused pharmaceutical companies of Orient EuroPharma’s professional capabilities and operational strength in the Taiwan market.

Orient EuroPharma stated that it will continue to place medical science at the core of its strategy and work closely with international partners to introduce dermatological prescription medicines supported by clinical evidence and meaningful therapeutic value, with the goal of improving the overall quality of care for patients with dermatological conditions in Taiwan.