Debiopharm and Ascepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Announce an Exclusive License Agreement for the Development and Commercialisation of the Dual-Targeting Kinase Inhibitor, ASP-08126 (Debio 1144), for the Treatment of Oncology Diseases

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SUZHOU, China, June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ –

Debiopharm Group(TM) (Debiopharm), a global biopharmaceutical development group
that focuses on serious medical conditions and particularly oncology, and Ascepion
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ascepion), a privately-held, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to
the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule drugs for the treatment of
oncology and related diseases, have entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement
concerning the development and commercialisation of ASP-08126 (called Debio 1144 by
Debiopharm) a multikinase inhibitor currently in pre-clinical development. ASP-08126 is a
potent orally available small molecule that binds and inhibits several tyrosine kinase
oncogenes implicated in many aspects of cancer development including tumour growth,
metastasis, and tumour angiogenesis. ASP-08126 is expected to be effective in the
treatment of various solid tumours as a mono-therapeutic agent or in combination with
other anti-cancer therapies.

“The potential of Debio 1144 to simultaneously inhibit many aspects of cancer
development is making that substance extremely attractive to Debiopharm”, said
Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, President and founder of Debiopharm, who added “Debio 1144 has the
potential of helping patients suffering from several tumour types. Due to its inhibition
profile Debio 1144, is expected to lead to high anti-tumour efficacy.”

“We are very pleased to collaborate with Debiopharm, a company with track records and
expertise in the development of cancer medicines, to develop our innovative cancer
therapeutics. The formation of this partnership will facilitate the development of
ASP-08126 and benefit cancer patients ultimately”, stated Dr. Shan Jiang, President and
CEO of Ascepion Pharmaceuticals.

About Debiopharm Group

Debiopharm Group(TM) (Debiopharm) is a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of
companies with a focus on the development of prescription drugs that target unmet medical
needs. Debiopharm in-licenses, develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small
molecule drug candidates having reached clinical development phases I, II or III as well
as earlier stage candidates. It develops its products for global registration and maximum
commercial potential. The products are out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners for sales
and marketing. Debiopharm is also active in the field of companion diagnostics with a view
to progressing in the area of personalised medicine. Debiopharm independently funds the
worldwide development of all of its products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and
clinical trials, manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs. For
more information on Debiopharm, please visit: http://www.debiopharm.com

About Ascepion Pharmaceuticals

Based in Suzhou, China, Ascepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a leading biopharmaceutical
company in China dedicated to the discovery and development of breakthrough small molecule
drugs. Ascepion Pharmaceuticals possesses a fully integrated platform and proprietary
technologies for the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics targeting
signal transduction pathways in a systematic and productive manner. The company has
developed a pipeline of innovative small molecule drugs for the treatment of oncology and
related diseases. For additional information on Ascepion Pharmaceuticals, please visit the
company’s website at http://www.ascepion.com .

           Debiopharm S.A. Contact
           Maurice Wagner
           Director Corporate Affairs & Communication
           Tel.: +41(0)21-321-01-11
           Fax: +41(0)21-321-01-69
           mwagner@debiopharm.com

           Additional Media Contacts

           In London
           Maitland
           Brian Hudspith
           Tel.: +44(0)20-7379-5151
           bhudspith@maitland.co.uk

           In New York
           Russo Partners, LLC
           Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
           Account Executive
           Tel.: +1-212-845-4292
           Fax: +1-212-845-4260
           martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com

           Ascepion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Contact
           Haiping Lin, Ph.D.
           Director, Corporate Development
           Tel: +86-512-62956001 ext 8002
           Fax: +86-512-62956001 ext 8004
           hplin@ascepion.com

SOURCE The Debiopharm Group and Ascepion Pharmaceuticals