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Minophagen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was founded by Tokuma Utsunomiya as Goshi Gaisha Minophagen Seiyaku Honpo Minouchi Meneki Yakuri Kenkyujo (Minouchi Immunopharmacological Research Center of Minophagen Seiyaku Honpo, a limited partnership pharmaceutical company). We celebrated our 86th anniversary this year.

The name of a researcher associated with us appeared in “My Resume” in the June 7th issue of the Nihon Keizai Shinbun. Dr. Tasuku Honjo of Kyoto University, who won the Nobel Prize for developing molecular targeted drugs, said that he decided to pursue basic research after entering Kyoto University's School of Medicine because he read Dr. Atsuhiro Shibatani's book "Revolution in Biology" (published in 1960 by Misuzu Shobo), which stated, "Soon the day will come when DNA abnormalities can be fixed with tweezers, as in a surgical operation." After graduating from Kyoto Imperial University, Dr. Shibatani was affiliated with the Minophagen Pharmaceutical Research Department and conducted research activities for a period after the war. This episode shows that during the difficult postwar period, the Minophagen Pharmaceutical Research Department served as a gathering place for leading researchers of the time, including Dr. Atsuhiro Shibatani. We aim to be a development-oriented global niche pharmaceutical company, guided by our "corporate philosophy," which carries on the spirit of our founding.

Sales of Targretin® Capsules 75mg (generic name: bexarotene), a treatment for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, which was licensed from Eisai Co., Ltd. and launched in Japan in June 2016, have been steady, and in June this year it was approved for the additional indication of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). Furthermore, with the cooperation of local sales partners, sales approval was obtained in Hong Kong in July this year and in Macau in February. We are currently conducting clinical trials with local partners with the aim of launching the drug in mainland China in the future.

In addition, for the domestic sales of Stronger Neo-Minophagen C (hereinafter referred to as SNMC) and Glycyron Tablets (hereinafter referred to as GLT), we have amicably terminated the sales contract with EA Pharma Co., Ltd. and have transitioned to an in-house sales system as of October 1st.

Meanwhile, our main market, China, has been significantly affected by the nationwide spread of a volume based purchase system aimed at reducing medical costs. However, we believe that sales in China have bottomed out due to efforts to develop new sales routes with new local partners, etc. In Japan, we also succeeded in receiving new orders for contract processing last year, and we believe that we will be able to achieve solid results in the future.

We will contribute to the health and welfare of people all over the world by seeking to improve benefits for patients and families, complying with laws and regulations, and continuing to provide safe, high-quality pharmaceutical products. We respectfully request your continued support.

October 2024
Tokuichiro Utsunomiya, Ph.D.
CEO & President