Japan-based Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) has signed a share purchase agreement to acquire Kyowa Pharma Chemical, an active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturer, and make it a wholly owned subsidiary.

The agreement has been executed with Kyowa Hakko Bio, the current shareholder of Kyowa Pharma, and its parent company, Kirin Holdings Company. DNP plans to complete the acquisition of 100% of Kyowa Pharma’s shares by October 2026.

Following DNP's acquisition of Kyowa Pharma's shares, the company is expected to be renamed DNP Pharma Chemical.

The DNP Group leverages precision organic synthesis technologies developed from its roots in printing technology to operate an API business, while expanding its medical and healthcare business, which covers activities ranging from drug discovery support to pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Kyowa Pharma possesses advanced organic synthesis technologies and manufacturing facilities, while meeting the latest standards required by regulatory authorities, as well as maintaining personnel and technologies with specialised expertise.

Through this share acquisition, DNP will combine DNP Group research and development capabilities, development and manufacturing infrastructure for APIs, formulations, and packaging with the advanced APIs development and manufacturing technologies of Kyowa Pharma, aiming to establish a CDMO capable of providing one-stop services from APIs to formulations and packaging.