Pharmaceuticals domain

In the 1980s, the Kirin Group ventured into pharmaceutical research and development by combining their expertise in microorganisms and cells from their original beer business with biotechnology. Today, this has become one of the group’s core businesses, and we are expanding it globally with a focus on biopharmaceuticals.

In 2008, Kyowa Kirin was established through a merger between Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Kirin Pharma. Since then, Kyowa Kirin has developed into a cutting-edge R&D company that leverages state-of-the-art biotechnology with a particular focus on antibody technology. As a leading Japanese life science company, Kyowa Kirin is committed to pursuing new possibilities and contributing to the health and well-being of people around the world by creating new value.

June 5, 2023

Maximizing the value of our global products and strengthening the pipeline as a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical company

Based on the strategies outlined in the FY2021-2025 Medium-Term Business Plan, Kyowa Kirin aims to achieve a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 10% or higher in revenue and an operating profit margin of 24% or higher by 2025. In addition, the company intends to establish a foundation for sustainable growth beyond 2025. As a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical company, Kyowa Kirin aims to establish a business foundation and achieve top-line growth by maximizing the value of global products and strengthening the pipeline to support our growth beyond 2025. 

Kyowa Kirin’s global strategic products are growing steadily. In particular, Crysvita sales reached 127 billion yen in revenue in 2022, becoming the first ever product to exceed sales of 100 billion yen. Since spring 2023, Kyowa Kirin has taken over sales activities for Crysvita in North America from Ultragenyx and is working to maximize the value of the product by fully leveraging the evidence and know-how accumulated since the beginning of its launch in 2018.

Kyowa Kirin is committed to creating innovative pharmaceuticals for sustainable growth beyond 2025. The company will accelerate the progress of its pipeline including KHK4083/AMG 451 (generic name: rocatinlimab), which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials in collaboration with Amgen Inc., and KHK4951 (generic name: tivozanib), which completed  Phase 1 trials last year and will advance to Phase 2. In addition, the company will continue to focus on R&D investments for growth, including the clinical development of antibodies applied with its proprietary Regulgent bispecific antibody technology.

  • 2021-2025 Medium-Term Business Plan strategies Provide pharmaceuticals for UMN ・Maximize the value of global strategic products ・Continue to create groundbreaking new drugs ・Patient advocacy ・Provide value beyond pharmaceuticals Reinforce human resources and structures that support the creation of life-changing value・Human resource development, organizational strengths, digital foundations, and other factorsRetain the trust of society

  • 2021-2025 Medium-Term Business Plan strategies Provide pharmaceuticals for UMN ・Maximize the value of global products ・Continue to create groundbreaking new drugs ・Patient advocacy ・Provide value beyond pharmaceuticals Reinforce human resources and structures that support the creation of life-changing value・Human resource development, organizational strengths, digital foundations, and other factorsRetain the trust of society

  • UMN: Unmet Medical Needs

Listening to patients and addressing unmet medical needs to drive patient advocacy on a global level

  • Lauren Walrath VP, Public Affairs Kyowa Kirin Inc. Stacey Minton SVP, Corporate Affairs Kyowa Kirin International plc. Yoshimi Gibbs PR Group Senior Manager Corporate Communications Department Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.

  • Lauren Walrath VP, Public Affairs Kyowa Kirin Inc. Stacey Minton SVP, Corporate Affairs Kyowa Kirin International plc. Yoshimi Gibbs PR Group Senior Manager Corporate Communications Department Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.

In its vision for 2030, Kyowa Kirin has made “addressing patient-centric healthcare needs” a one of the pillars of its strategy. To this end, the company has been globally expanding their patient advocacy activities on Rare Disease Day (RDD), which is on the last day of February each year, with the aim of providing patients with better environments for medical care and living. Through communication and collaboration with patient and healthcare professional communities, we aim to promote the correct understanding of diseases while working towards addressing unmet medical needs. Our ultimate objective is to make people who are facing diseases smile.

In Japan, Kyowa Kirin sponsored RDD Japan and participated in STEP,* a disease information community established by the NPO ASrid. Through STEP, the company is contributing to the promotion of a system that responds to the “want to know” needs of patients, their families, and other stakeholders. The company is also proactively working on internal awareness-raising activities. On its internal social media platform, numerous employees posted photos or videos demonstrating radio calisthenics for improving psoriasis symptoms and meal recipes for psoriasis patients.

Zebras are used as a symbol of rare diseases, and in the U.S., Kyowa Kirin collaborated with National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) to carry out the #ShowYourStripes campaign, aimed at deepening understanding of these diseases. In Europe, the company used various media channels, such as artworks, disease awareness advertisements in newspapers, and online news programs, to communicate its initiatives and the challenges that patients with rare and intractable diseases.

In Australia, Kyowa Kirin collaborated with XLH Australia, a support organization for patients with X-linked Hypophosphatemia, to conduct the first survey on the challenges faced by patients, their families, and caregivers. By sharing the survey results, the company was able to raise awareness about the disease. In Singapore, the company participated in the Carry Hope 7.7 KM Challenge 2022 organized by the Rare Disorders Society and posted on social media to show our support, running, walking, and cycling the 7.7 km distance.

Kyowa Kirin will continue addressing rare and intractable diseases and providing support globally to realize our philosophy, “Contribute to the health and well-being of people around the world.”

  • Strategic Translational action for Empowering Patients. A platform established with the aim of serving as a strategic bridge for patients and their families to empower themselves. Its goal is to empower stakeholders from various perspectives, including disease areas, patients and families, healthcare professionals, companies, and organizations.

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