MECHELEN, BELGIUM--(Marketwire - Sep 2, 2012) - Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today that its service division BioFocus and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Osaka Japan) have signed a new collaboration agreement, focused on discovering novel drugs in the field of CNS disorders. Under the new agreement, BioFocus will use its drug discovery platform to deliver leads and clinical candidates for its client. Financial details were undisclosed.

"We are delighted to have this new agreement, which is the first drug discovery program with this, a most valued, client" said Dr. Chris Newton, SVP Galapagos Services and Managing Director of BioFocus. "This project plays to BioFocus historic strengths and the expanding breadth and depth of this partnership is testament to a tried and trusted relationship."

Kazuhito Kawabata, Ph.D., Member of the Board of Directors, Executive Officer and Executive Director, Discovery and Research of Ono commented: "We have the highest regard for the BioFocus' comprehensive drug discovery platform. This collaboration will strengthen Ono's drug discovery capability in the field of CNS disorders with significant unmet medical needs and we are expecting that innovative drugs will be created through this collaboration."

About BioFocus

BioFocus provides integrated drug discovery that delivers pre-clinical drug candidates in all therapeutic areas with strong capability in neurodegenerative diseases, inflammatory diseases and with a growing track record of delivering candidates against rare and neglected diseases. BioFocus has advanced and comprehensive drug discovery capabilities that are applied to client projects to deliver targets, hits, leads and candidate pre-clinical drugs. The company employs over 250 exceptionally qualified and industry experienced scientists at its three research centers in the UK, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Since its foundation in 1997, BioFocus has striven to produce high quality data for its clients and this quality is assured by ISO9001 qualification validated by regular, independent inspection of all BioFocus research centers. For more information please visit www.biofocus.com.

About Galapagos

Galapagos (Euronext: GLPG; OTC: GLPYY) is a mid-size clinical stage biotechnology company specialized in the discovery and development of small molecule and antibody therapies with novel modes-of-action. The Company is progressing its JAK1 inhibitor GLPG0634, as well as one of the largest pipelines in biotech, with four programs in development and over 30 discovery programs. The Galapagos Group has about 800 employees and operates facilities in six countries, with global headquarters in Mechelen, Belgium. More info at: www.glpg.com

About Ono

In keeping with its philosophy of "Dedicated to Man's Fight against Disease and Pain," Ono has always striven to achieve its goal of serving as an R&D- oriented global specialty pharmaceuticals, aiming to develop innovative and globally recognized drugs. To do this, Ono has been engaged in drug discovery research based on accumulated technologies and know-how - in areas where its strengths can be fully exploited (i.e. bioactive lipid agonists and enzyme inhibitors such as proteases and kinases). In addition, modulators of membrane transport systems such as ion-channels and transporters as well as biotechnology- based medicines are also the areas of our focus where we drive forward our research effectively deploying our know-how from neuroscience research and our gene assets together with the latest information acquired from global research institutions on drug discovery targets and the cutting-edge drug discovery technologies that biopharmaceutical companies can offer. For more information, please visit www.ono.co.jp.

This release may contain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will," "could," "stands to," and "continues," as well as similar expressions. Such forward- looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which might cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Galapagos, or industry results, to be materially different from any historic or future results, financial conditions, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. Galapagos expressly disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements in this document to reflect any change in its expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, unless required by law or regulation.

BioFocus(®) is a trademark of Galapagos NV and/or its affiliates © Copyright 2012 Galapagos NV.

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Source: Galapagos NV via Thomson Reuters ONE

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