| 1890 |
Dr. Shibasaburo Kitasato and Dr. Bering discovered that the serum obtained from an animal infected with diphtheria was effective in the treatment of diphtheria and tetanus; they established serum therapy. |
| 1907 |
1907 - Establishment of Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd. |
| 1949 |
1949 - Establishment of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd. as a secondary company of Kyowa Sangyo Co., Ltd, as part of industrial readjustment plans. |
| 1951 |
1951 - Introduced production technology of Streptomycin, an anti-tubercular drug, from US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co., Inc. and succeeded in its mass production. Contributed to the wiping out of tuberculosis in Japan (beginning of involvement in pharmaceutical business operations). |
| 1956 |
1956 - Success of isolation and commercially mass-production of the anticancer drug, Mitomycin C. Invention of the process of L-glutamic acid production by fermentation (a world first). |
| 1959 |
Gerald Edelman and Rodney Porter determined the molecular structure of antibodies. |
| 1963 |
1963 - Initiation of full-scale involvement in the pharmaceutical business. Release of Mitomycin C, an anticancer drug, and Spiramycin, an antibiotic drug. |
| 1967 |
1967 - Release of 5-FU, an anticancer drug. |
| 1971 |
1971 - Release of Leunase, an anticancer drug. |
| 1975 |
César Milstein, Georges Köhler and Niels Kaj Jerne established the hybridoma technology, which is a technology for producing monoclonal antibodies. |
| 1976 |
Dr. Susumu Tonegawa discovered the genetic principle for the generation of antibody diversity. |
| 1982 |
1982 - The Research Institute for Production Development foundation begins full-scale research towards the commercialization of erythropoietin. |
| 1986 |
The world's first therapeutic antibody "muromonab" was approved. |
| 1988 |
1988 - Supported the establishment in the U.S.A. of the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI). |
| 1990 |
1990 - Release of ESPO®, an erythropoietin (EPO) drug. |
| 1990 |
Antibody engineering technologies were established. |
| 1991 |
1991 - Release of GRAN®, G-CSF drug. Release of Coniel, a remedy for hypertension and angina pectoris. |
| 1997 |
1997 - Establishment of fully human antibody production technology. |
| 2003 |
2003 - Establishment of BioWa, Inc. in the United States to promote Kyowa Hakko's therapeutic antibody business. |
| 2005 |
Japan’s first therapeutic antibody "tocilizumab" was approved. |
| 2007 |
2007 - The launch of Kirin Pharma Company, Limited to accompany the adoption by Kirin Brewery Company, Limited of a pure holding company system. Release of NESP®, a long-acting erythropoietic stimulating drug. Established COMPLEGENT®, a novel antibody engineering technology that enhances the efficacy of antibodies, and licensed to BioWa, Inc, its subsidiary. Capital alliance between Kyowa Hakko Group and Kirin Group. |
| 2008 |
2008 - Release of REGPARA®, a drug for secondary hyperparathyroidism. Spun off its biochemical business, establishing Kyowa Hakko Bio Co., Ltd. Kyowa Hakko Kirin was formed through the merger of Kyowa Hakko Kogyo and Kirin Pharma. |
| 2009 |
2009 - Introduced 'Commitment to Life'. |
| 2011 |
2011 - Acquired ProStrakan Group plc. |
| 2012 |
2012 - Launch of Poteligeo® in Japan, a Therapeutic Antibody for Adult T-cell Leukemia-Lymphoma (ATL). |
| 2013 |
2013 - Launch of NOURIAST® tablets 20 mg in Japan, a novel antiparkinsonian agent. |
| 2014 |
2014 - ProStrakan completes acquisition of Archimedes. Launch of Sustained-Duration G-CSF Product G-LASTA® in Japan. |
| 2016 |
2016 - Rebranding Western Pharmaceutical Subsidiaries to 'Kyowa Kirin'. Launch of LUMICEF® for Psoriasis Treatment in Japan. |
| 2018 |
2018 - Crysvita® approved in the US and Europe for X-linked hypophosphatemia. Poteligeo® approved in the US and Europe for mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). |
| 2019 |
2019 - Trade name changed to 'Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd.' from Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. Crysvita® launched in Japan for FGF23-related Hypophosphatemic Rickets and Osteomalacia. Nourianz™ launched in the US for Parkinson's disease. |
| 2020 |
2020 - Poteligeo® launched in Europe for mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS). Crysvita® approved in the US for tumor-induced osteomalacia (TIO). |
| 2021 |
2021 - New Vision toward 2030. Agreement with Amgen on KHK4083. Support for TCFD recommendations. |
| 2022 |
2022 - Adoption of global DE&I statement. Launch of G-Lasta® Subcutaneous Injection 3.6 mg BodyPod. Completion of Q-TOWER analysis facility. |
| 2022 |
More than 100 therapeutic antibodies have been approved in Japan, Europe, and the United States. |
| 2023 |
2023 - PHOZEVEL® approved in Japan. Acquisition of Orchard Therapeutics announced. |
| 2024 |
2024 - Lenmeldy™ approved and launched in the US. New biologics manufacturing plant planned in North Carolina. Collaboration with Kura Oncology on menin inhibitor ziftomenib. |
| 2025 |
2025 - Completion of HB7 Building at Takasaki Plant. FDA approval and US launch of KOMZIFTI™ (ziftomenib) for AML. |
