KHネオケム Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Mario Takahashi; hereinafter "KHネオケム") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a business partnership agreement with Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Sapporo, Hokkaido; President and CEO: Yukio Mizutani; hereinafter "Hokkaido System Science"). This agreement aims to expand Hokkaido System Science's custom synthesis services for glycosylated nucleic acids and promote sales activities.
1. Background of the Business Partnership
In recent years, nucleic acid drugs*1 have garnered attention as next-generation drug discovery modalities, with research and development accelerating globally for siRNA and antisense nucleic acids. However, the practical application of nucleic acid drugs hinges on establishing efficient drug delivery systems (DDS) to target tissues. Targeting technology utilizing glycans is particularly promising for enabling selective delivery to specific tissues, and the need for research and development combining nucleic acids and glycans is expected to grow further.
2. Details of the Business Partnership
KHネオケム, leveraging its advanced organic synthesis technology cultivated over many years, provides high-purity and uniform glycans essential for drug development. It offers integrated services from structural design proposals to synthesis, evaluation, and scale-up manufacturing. Hokkaido System Science, on the other hand, has been engaged in the nucleic acid synthesis business for over 30 years, offering custom synthesis services for DNA, RNA, and various modified nucleic acids, as well as CRDMO*2 services supporting research and development through to the manufacturing of nucleic acid drugs.
Through this partnership, both companies will utilize their respective expertise and technologies in glycans and nucleic acids. Hokkaido System Science will launch a custom synthesis service for glycosylated nucleic acids, where KHネオケム's glycans will be modified onto Hokkaido System Science's nucleic acids.
3. Future Outlook
Through this partnership, KHネオケム will support the expansion of Hokkaido System Science's service lineup in the field of glycosylated nucleic acids, contributing to the advancement of the life sciences field and the acceleration of nucleic acid drug development.
*1 Nucleic acid drug: A drug that utilizes nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA to control the expression or function of genes causing disease. *2 CRDMO: Contract Research, Development and Manufacturing Organization
Company Overviews
Company Name
KHネオケム Co., Ltd.
Hokkaido System Science Co., Ltd.
Location
2-3-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
2-1, Shinkawa Nishi 2-jo, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido
Established
December 2010 (Predecessor Kyowa Yuka established November 1966)
September 1988
Representative
Mario Takahashi, President and CEO
Yukio Mizutani, President and CEO
Capital
8,855 million yen
30 million yen
Business Activities
Research, manufacturing, and sales of various petrochemical products
Research support services (gene-related fields, protein-related fields, biochemistry-related fields, joint research)
Company URL
https://www.khneochem.co.jp/
https://hssnet.co.jp/
About KHネオケム's Glycans
KHネオケム, aiming to achieve VISION 2030, has set "Environment," "Healthcare," and "Electronics" as strategic domains and is pursuing the creation of new businesses. In the Healthcare domain, KHネオケム is focusing on the potential of glycans, which are biomolecules, and has been developing proprietary glycan and manufacturing technologies. To further accelerate value creation from glycans, KHネオケム is collaborating with biotechnology companies possessing cutting-edge technologies to conduct technological demonstrations in the biopharmaceutical field. By combining the unique technologies of each company with glycan technology, KHネオケム aims to promote the social implementation of glycans and maximize the value of its glycan and manufacturing technologies.
About KHネオケム's Glycan GlyMuchTM
https://www.khneochem.co.jp/solution/glycan
About KHネオケム
Company Profile* As of the end of December 2025.
Company Name
KHネオケム Co., Ltd.
Representative
Mario Takahashi, President and CEO
Year Established
December 2010 (Predecessor Kyowa Yuka established November 1966)
Capital
8,855 million yen
Head Office
2-3-1 Nihonbashi-Muromachi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Number of Employees
Consolidated 863
Business Activities
Research, manufacturing, and sales of various petrochemical products
Major Product Groups
Functional Materials (e.g., raw materials for refrigerant oils, cosmetic ingredients) Electronic Materials (e.g., high-purity solvents for semiconductors and flat-panel displays) Basic Chemicals (e.g., solvents for paints and inks, raw materials for plasticizers)
Group Companies
Kurogane Kasei Co., Ltd. / Kurogane Fines Co., Ltd. / KH Neochem Americas, Inc. / Sheng Hua (Shanghai) Trading Co., Ltd.
History
1948
Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd. (later Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.) became the first in Japan to mass-produce acetone and butanol from molasses by fermentation.
1949
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. established (currently Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.)
1966
Kyowa Yuka Co., Ltd. established (chemical manufacturing subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.)
2004
Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd.'s chemical business integrated into Kyowa Yuka Co., Ltd., forming Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd.
2011
Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd. became independent from the Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. (now Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.) group.
2012
Kyowa Hakko Chemical Co., Ltd. changed its name to KHネオケム Co., Ltd.
2016
Listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2018
VISION 2030 formulated.
2019
KH i-Lab, an open innovation hub, established.
2022
Transitioned to the Prime Market following the review of the Tokyo Stock Exchange market segments.
2022
Agreement reached on capital and business alliance with Glycan Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd.
2024
Agreement reached on capital and business alliance with Veneno Technologies Co., Ltd.
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Partnership