Life Science Business Unit

In FY2022, the first year of KV25, sales in the pharmaceutical business were affected by the drug price revisions for domestic formulations as in previous years. However, sales were on par with the previous year due to growth of sales volume, mainly of generic anti-cancer drugs including unique formulations and biosimilars. In addition, Specialty Chemicals, International & IVD business and Food Techno, a subsidiary, enjoyed steady business performance, and we could almost achieve forecast net sales and divisional operating income for the pharmaceuticals business as a whole.
　In R&D, we have promoted several themes for which we aim to enter clinical trials in 2025. We have also started to acquire new modalities through partnerships with academia. As in the past, we are also heavily engaged in activities for the continued launch of generic anti-cancer drugs and biosimilars. On the other hand, it was also a year in which we reaffirmed the importance of quality assurance and stable supply as a company that provides pharmaceutical products. All of us will continue to work hard to ensure that our business operations are conducted under the best possible system.
　Regarding for the agrochemicals business in the first year of KV25, overseas sales grew significantly and we were able to make a good start. In particular, the increase in sales of insecticide such as EVISECT and flometoquin formulations contributed significantly. But soaring raw material prices led to deterioration in profitability. We will continue to maintain domestic sales, expand overseas, pass on cost increases to sales prices, and promote cost reductions with the aim of achieving sales in FY2025.
　 In FY2023, the Life Science business unit, which includes the agrochemicals business as well as the pharmaceuticals business, will be newly launched. This business unit as a whole has the strength of having food and healthcare-related products in addition to pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. In technological fields which are closely related to people՚s lives, including living and eating, we will create businesses and products based on new ideas through synergies within the business unit, in our efforts to achieve our vision.

Newly launched drugs

Anti-cancer drugs

• Adalimumab BS Subcutaneous Injection 40mg Syringe 0.4mL"CTNK" and 40mg Pen 0.4mL"CTNK“
  • Nov. 2023 (Juvenile idiopathic arthritis with polyarticular active insufficient response to existing treatments)
• Adalimumab BS Subcutaneous Injection 40mg Syringe 0.4mL"CTNK" and 80mg Syringe 0.8mL"CTNK" and 40mg Pen 0.4mL"CTNK" and 80mg Pen 0.8mL"CTNK"
  • Nov. 2023
    ・Rheumatoid arthritis (including the prevention of structural joint damage)
    The diseases which are not adequately responsive to conventional therapies
    ・Psoriasis vulgaris, psoriatic arthritis, and pustular psoriasis
    ・Ankylosing spondylitis
    ・Intestinal Behcet's disease
    ・Non-infectious intermediate uveitis, posterior uveitis, or panuveitis
    ・Remission induction or maintenance therapy for moderate or severe active Crohn's disease (limited to the cases in which conventional therapy is not sufficiently effective)
    ・Treatment of moderate or severe ulcerative colitis (limited to the cases in which conventional therapy is not sufficiently effective)
• Erlotinib
  • Jun. 2023 (Non-small-cell lung cancer with unresectable recurrent or advanced disease positive for EGFR mutation and previously untreated for cancer chemotherapy, Unresectable, recurrent or advanced, chemotherapy-naive non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation-positive, Unresectable pancreatic cancer)
• Bevacizumab BS
  • Nov. 2022 (Unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer, Unresectable advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer excluding squamous cell carcinoma, Inoperable or relapsed breast cancer)

Drugs with additional indications

• Bevacizumab BS
  • Dec. 2024 (Malignant neuroglia)
• Trastuzumab BS
  • Oct. 2023 (HER2 positive unresectable advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer progressing after cancer chemotherapy)
• Oxaliplatin
  • Aug. 2023 (Stomach cancer)
• NKS-1
  • Jun. 2023 (Postoperative pharmacotherapy in hormone-re​ceptor-pos​itive,​ HER2 negative, and recurrent high-risk breast cancer)
• Bevacizumab BS
  • Apr. 2023 (Ovarian cancer)
• Pemetrexed
  • Mar. 2023 (Neoadjuvant therapy in non-small cell lung cancer excluding squamous cell carcinoma)