Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.

OSAKA, Japan, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. headquartered in Osaka, Japan, has announced a plan to expand its GMP (*1)-compliant manufacturing capacity for nucleic acid drug "active pharmaceutical ingredients" (APIs) tenfold in response to rapidly growing global demand in the nucleic acid drug market. Logo: Nucleic acid drugs are generally defined as "chemically synthesized drugs with oligonucleotides as active ingredients that exert their effects without being translated into proteins." (*2) As a new modality following small molecule and antibody drugs, they are expected to be applied in areas such as rare diseases, neurological disorders, and cancers -- fields where conventional treatments have been limited. The global market for nucleic acid drugs is projected to exceed 1,400 billion yen by 2030 (*3). In line with this, the global CDMO (*4) market for nucleic acid drugs is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 14% from 2021 to 2030, reaching 200 billion yen by 2030 (*3). Against the backdrop of market expansion, pharmaceutical companies in Japan and abroad have expressed strong expectations for the enhancement of Nippon Shokubai's GMP-compliant manufacturing facilities. The capacity expansion will involve the installation of a large-scale production line with ten times the capacity (several kilograms per batch) of the company's existing line. The new facility is scheduled to begin operation in 2027, making it one of Japan's largest CDMOs, capable of manufacturing nucleic acid drug APIs for common diseases that require large-scale supply. The company will strengthen its manufacturing system to meet a wide range of needs, from non-clinical stages to large-scale commercial production. GMP-compliant manufacturing facility in Osaka: Leveraging Nippon Shokubai's long-standing expertise in organic synthesis and rigorous quality control systems, the company manufactures oligonucleotides and peptides, which are medium-sized molecule APIs. Its GMP-compliant facilities, among the most advanced in Japan, have been audited and visited by multiple pharmaceutical companies, all of which have given high evaluations, establishing Nippon Shokubai's strong reputation in the industry. The company will continue to provide flexible contract manufacturing services that meet diverse needs and contribute to a sustainable society by ensuring a stable supply of medium-sized molecule APIs that support human health and life. (*1) GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice -- standards for manufacturing and quality control of pharmaceuticals (*2) Source: National Institute of Health Sciences. (n.d.). Division of Molecular Target and Gene Therapy Products, Section 2. Retrieved June 17, 2025, from (*3) Source: TPC Marketing Research Corp., "2023 Global Nucleic Acid Drug CDMO Market" (*4) CDMO: Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization About NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.: For more information: SOURCE NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. (Headquarter:Chuo-ku Osaka, President: Kazuhiro Noda, hereinafter “Nippon Shokubai”), has announced to acquire all shares of Lilac pharma Inc. (Headquarter: Kita-ku Sapporo-city Hokkaido, President: Motoki Susa, hereinafter “Lilac pharma”), to make Lilac pharma a 100% subsidiary on December 9, 2024. In cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, lipid nanoparticles like liposomes*1 have been drawing increasing attention as an innovative material from the point of contributing to the stability and permeability of the contained active ingredients. Lilac pharma which is a Hokkaido University-initiated startup, is developing its business based on lipid nanoparticle manufacturing technology focusing on the size of lipid nanoparticles. Their own “iLiNP®️ Microfluidic Device”*2 is different from conventional method, can continuously produce high-quality lipid nanoparticles of uniform size easily. Furthermore, since the size can be controlled widely, iLiNP®️*2 is expected to be a technology for manufacturing highly functional lipid nanoparticles and is being provided for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In 2017, Nippon Shokubai established the Cosmetics Business Division (at that time, the Cosmetics Business Planning Office) to promote the development of cosmetic ingredients utilizing its products and technologies, and to acquire ingredients and formulation technologies through business collaboration. Currently, Nippon Shokubai has a lineup of more than 15 cosmetic ingredients. Also the Health & Medical business Division has established synthesis and analysis technologies for middle-molecular APIs, and is developing CDMO business for oligonucleotides and peptides. Nippon Shokubai and Lilac pharma have successfully developed liposomes*1 for cosmetics with characteristics such as extremely high stability through joint research since 2019. By making Lilac pharma a 100% subsidiary, Nippon Shokubai will accelerate the development efficiency of liposomes*1 and the establishment of a stable supply system, and aim to further expand its cosmetics and nanoparticle business for pharmaceuticals by utilizing the expertise in various fields. *1: A liposome is a 20 – 200 nm spherical vesicle having at least one lipid bilayer. The liposomes can improve stability and permeability into human skin by internally sealing unstable materials. *2: iLiNP®️ Microfluidic Device is the core technology of Lilac pharma which has obtained an exclusive patent license from Hokkaido University. iLiNP®️ is a registered trademark of Lilac pharma

NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. (Headquarter:Chuo-ku Osaka President: Kazuhiro Noda, hereinafter "Nippon Shokubai"), has announced to acquire all shares of Lilac pharma Inc. (Headquarter: Kita-ku Sapporo-city Hokkaido, President: Motoki Susa, hereinafter "Lilac pharma"), to make Lilac pharma a 100% subsidiary on December 9, 2024. In cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, lipid nanoparticles like liposomes*1 have been drawing increasing attention as an innovative material from the point of contributing to the stability and permeability of the contained active ingredients. Lilac pharma which is a Hokkaido University-initiated startup, is developing its business based on lipid nanoparticle manufacturing technology focusing on the size of lipid nanoparticles. Their own "iLiNP®️ Microfluidic Device"*2 is different from conventional method, can continuously produce high-quality lipid nanoparticles of uniform size easily. Furthermore, since the size can be controlled widely, iLiNP®️*2 is expected to be a technology for manufacturing highly functional lipid nanoparticles and is being provided for cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. In 2017, Nippon Shokubai established the Cosmetics Business Division (at that time, the Cosmetics Business Planning Office) to promote the development of cosmetic ingredients utilizing its products and technologies, and to acquire ingredients and formulation technologies through business collaboration. Currently, Nippon Shokubai has a lineup of more than 15 cosmetic ingredients.
Also the Health & Medical business Division has established synthesis and analysis technologies for middle-molecular APIs, and is developing CDMO business for oligonucleotides and peptides. Nippon Shokubai and Lilac pharma have successfully developed liposomes*1 for cosmetics with characteristics such as extremely high stability through joint research since 2019.
By making Lilac pharma a 100% subsidiary, Nippon Shokubai will accelerate the development efficiency of liposomes*1 and the establishment of a stable supply system, and aim to further expand its cosmetics and nanoparticle business for pharmaceuticals by utilizing the expertise in various fields. *1: A liposome is a 20 - 200 nm spherical vesicle having at least one lipid bilayer. The liposomes can improve stability and permeability into human skin by internally sealing unstable materials. *2: iLiNP®️ Microfluidic Device is the core technology of Lilac pharma which has obtained an exclusive patent license from Hokkaido University.
iLiNP®️ is a registered trademark of Lilac pharma 【Outline of Lilac pharma】
Name: Lilac pharma Inc.
Headquarter: Room #C, Hokkaido Collaboration Center (Collabo Hokkaido)
Kita 21, Nishi 12, Kita-Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 001-0021,Japan
Representative: Motoki Susa
Business:
1. Research and development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
2. Licensing and trading intellectual properties.
3. Investigation and consultation pertaining to the research and development of pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.
Capital: 14.1 million yen
Established: April 18th, 2016
Web site: https://global.lilacpharma.com/