On 6 October 2025, Alfresa Holdings announced that it has entered into agreements with two other Japanese companies, Kidswell Bio Corporation and Chiome Bioscience Inc., to jointly develop biosimilars for unnamed specified products in Japan.
The agreement follows the selection of the three companies by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) to establish a domestic manufacturing facility for biosimilars. The MHLW initiative is part of a program which aims to ensure that biosimilars account for more than 80% of total prescriptions in Japan for at least 60% of all eligible active ingredients by the end of FY29.
The manufacturing processes for the biosimilars subject to the agreements are expected to be transferred to the domestic manufacturing facility established under the MHLW’s program, for commercial production.
The companies intend to leverage their respective expertise (Alfresa’s nationwide pharmaceutical distribution network and manufacturing capabilities, Kidswell’s experience in development and stable supply of multiple biosimilars and Chiome’s expertise in antibody drug R&D), supported by the Taiwanese CDMO Mycenax Biotech, to work towards developing a stable Japanese biosimilar supply system.