Kyowa Kirin Expands Global Biologics Manufacturing Footprint with New Facilities in Japan and US

Japanese pharmaceutical company Kyowa Kirin has made significant strides in expanding its biologics manufacturing capabilities, completing construction of a new facility in Japan while progressing on a major plant in the United States. These developments mark a strategic move to strengthen the company's in-house drug production capacity and accelerate its development pipeline.

New $118 Million Biologics Plant Completed in Takasaki, Japan

Kyowa Kirin has announced the completion of a new drug substance manufacturing facility at its biopharma production site in Takasaki, Japan. The 16.8 billion Japanese yen ($118 million) investment underscores the company's commitment to enhancing its early-stage drug development capabilities.

The state-of-the-art facility is designed to produce investigational biologics, leveraging Kyowa Kirin's antibody technology and protein engineering expertise. Incorporating single-use technology to minimize cross-contamination risks, the plant also features a pilot facility for process development.

Toshiyuki Kurata, Kyowa Kirin's chief supply chain officer, emphasized the strategic importance of the new facility, stating, "By establishing a global manufacturing structure that utilizes Takasaki Plant ... and the plant in Sanford, we aim to further accelerate development by manufacturing [drug substance] in-house, from early to late-stage development and the initial stages of market launch."

$530 Million US Biologics Plant Underway in North Carolina

In parallel with the Takasaki plant's completion, Kyowa Kirin is making progress on a significant manufacturing expansion in the United States. The company received approval in June 2024 to begin construction of a $530 million biologics plant in Sanford, North Carolina.

Set to commence operations in 2027, the Sanford facility will be Kyowa Kirin's first manufacturing plant in the US. Like its Japanese counterpart, the North Carolina site will focus on producing next-generation antibodies for upcoming clinical trials and future commercial use.

Strategic Alignment and Operational Streamlining

While expanding its manufacturing capabilities, Kyowa Kirin has also undertaken strategic realignments in other areas of its business. The company announced plans for a "significant reduction" in its small molecule drug discovery research activities, shifting focus towards antibody technologies and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy in select fields.

As part of this restructuring, Kyowa Kirin has:

• Transferred its entire Chinese mainland operations, including five established brands, to domestic drugmaker WinHealth Pharma for 750 million Chinese yuan.
• Sold seven established brands in South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan to Swiss holding company DKSH Holding.
• Initiated layoffs of 52 US employees at its North American headquarters in Princeton, New Jersey.

These moves reflect Kyowa Kirin's efforts to streamline operations and align resources with its core strategic focus on biologics and advanced therapies.