Daiichi Fine Chemical Completes Construction of a New Facility for the Manufacture of Bulk Pharmaceuticals

Tokyo, Japan, July 16, 2013, Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd.'s (CEO: Shuichi Ishino, "Kyowa Hakko Bio") subsidiary, Daiichi Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. (President: Etsuo Ohshima, "Daiichi Fine Chemical"), held a ceremony to commemorate the completion of construction of a new facility for the manufacture of bulk pharmaceuticals within its headquarters plant.

The newly completed facility for bulk pharmaceuticals manufacture is a four-story building with total floor space of approximately 1,600m2. In line with the Basic Production Strategy outlined in the Medium-term Business Plan FY 2010 to 2012 of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (President and CEO: Nobuo Hanai, "Kyowa Hakko Kirin") announced in January 2010, plans call for the new facility to perform contract manufacturing of bulk pharmaceuticals (antiepileptic drug) currently manufactured at Kyowa Hakko Kirin's Sakai Plant.

Kyowa Hakko Bio's role within the Kyowa Hakko Kirin Group is to engage in such biochemical businesses as the manufacture and sale of bulk pharmaceuticals, intermediates, ingredients for health foods, and materials for cosmetic products. As a key company under Kyowa Hakko Bio, Daiichi Fine Chemical is aiming to change its business focus toward the manufacture and sale of high value-added materials. The construction of this facility to manufacture bulk pharmaceuticals is one expression of this direction. Going forward, Daiichi Fine Chemical will continue to strengthen its capabilities in bulk pharmaceuticals and intermediates and aim to provide stable supplies of high-quality products not only to Group companies but also to a broad range of pharmaceutical sales companies.

Kyowa Hakko Bio was newly established as a wholly owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin on October 1, 2008. Kyowa Hakko Bio carries on over a half century of assets, professional talent, and technological development know-how from Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. (now Kyowa Hakko Kirin) tracing back to the invention of the process of glutamic acid by fermentation. From these foundations and following its major goal of realizing the "organic fusion of fermentation and synthesis technologies," Kyowa Hakko Bio aims to innovatively develop a wide number and variety of products and thus contribute to the health and wellbeing of people worldwide through pharmaceuticals and health foods.