History

Nobeoka Ammonia Fiber Co., Ltd. established
1931
Corporate name changed to
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
1946
Capital tie-up with Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd.
1958
Inosine, a nucleoside, launched
1969
Bacitracin, an antibiotic feed additive, launched
1970
Colistin, an antibiotic feed additive, launched
1974
Pharmaceutical product operations begin
1976
Anticancer agent
Sunfural™ (tegafur) launched
1978
Ubidecarenone (coenzyme Q10) launched
1981
Anticancer agent
Sunrabin™ (enocitabine) launched
1983
Medical nutrition products launched
1983
Acquisition of
International Contact Lenses Co., Ltd.
1989
Plasvata™ (tisokinase) launched for the
treatment of acute myocardial infarction
1991
1920
Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd. established,
successor to sake brewery Wakita Shuzo
1947
Penicillin launched
1955
Antibiotic agent Leucomycin™
(kitasamycin) launched
1969
Synthesized penicillin launched
1974
Enzymes developed for triglyceride measurement
1981
Synthetic calcitonin derivative Elcitonin™ (elcatonin)
launched for the treatment of osteoporosis
1983
Anti-allergy agent Zesulan™
(mequitazine) launched
1984
Immunosuppressant Bredinin™ (mizoribine)
launched for renal transplantation rejection
1986
Antibiotic agent Ricamycin™ (rokitamycin) launched
1988
Antibiotic agent Exacin™ (isepamicin) launched
1992
Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd. merges with
Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
1993
Elcitonin™ (elcatonin) Injection 20S launched
for the treatment of osteoporosis
1995
Rho-kinase inhibitor Eril™ (fasudil) launched
1999
Flivas™ (naftopidil) launched for the treatment of
dysuria accompanying benign prostatic hyperplasia
2000
Toledomin™ (milnacipran hydrochloride) launched
for the treatment of depression
2001
Corporate name changed to
Asahi Kasei Corporation
2003
Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation begins operation
following the transformation of Asahi Kasei
Corporation to a holding company configuration
2004
Lucica™ GA-L assay kit launched for the
measurement of glycated albumin (GA)
2008
Recomodulin™ (thrombomodulin alfa)
launched for the treatment of
disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
2008
Famvir® (famciclovir) launched for
the treatment of herpes zoster
2011
Teribone™ (teriparatide acetate) launched for the
treatment of osteoporosis with high risk of fracture
2011
Asahi Kasei Pharma America Corp. established
2013
Ribotest™ Mycoplasma assay kit launched for
the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen
2015
Asahi Kasei Pharma (Beijing) Co., Ltd. established
2015
Xiaflex® (collagenase clostridium histolyticum)
launched for the treatment of Dupuytren's
contracture
2016
Reclast® (zoledronic acid) launched for
the treatment of osteoporosis
2018
Kevzara® (sarilumab) launched for
the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients
who have had an inadequate response
to conventional treatments
2019
Ribotest™ Legionella assay kit launched for the detection
of urinary Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 LPS
antigen and urinary Legionella pneumophila L7/L12
antigen
2021
Ribotest™ Pertussis assay kit launched for the detection
of Bordetella pertussis antigen
2021
Plaquenil®(hydroxychloroquine sulfate)launched
for the treatment of cutaneous lupus erythematosus
(CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Notes: Toledomin™ is a registered trademark of Pierre Fabre
Medicament SA. Famvir® is a registered trademark
of Novartis Pharma AG. Xiaflex® is a registered trademark
of an affiliate of Endo International plc.

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