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About the Diagnostics Division

Being able to make an accurate diagnosis is important, not only for treating illnesses but also for keeping people healthy and preventing them from becoming ill.
The Diagnostics Division at Asahi Kasei Pharma conducts research and development on in-vitro diagnostic products and the enzymes used in them.
Our goal is to reduce to zero the number of people who give up on what they want to do because of illness.
We will continue to provide healthcare products that meet the needs of the times.

What the Diagnostics Division offers

Development & manufacturing of more than 100 enzymessupporting the “core of diagnostic reagents”

We utilize our uniquely developed genetic recombination and microbial cultivation technologies to manufacture and sell enzymes used in various diagnostic products, such as those for blood sugar, lipids, kidney function, and liver function.
We respond to emerging needs in our world as one of the few companies that offer everything from raw enzyme materials to diagnostic products.

Find out more details about the enzymes
In-vitro diagnostic products that utilize our unique enzyme method

We developed the LucicaTM Glycated Albumin assay kit (liquid reagent), which has been manufactured and sold in Japan since 2004. In 2022, we launched a new Glycated Albumin assay kit as a reagent that meets the need for a reference standard material for measurement of glycated albumin. LucicaTM MI Assay Kit, a myo-Inositol measuring reagent, is a testing agent that uses a urine sample to screen for impaired glucose tolerance, which cannot be detected by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) testing alone.


LucicaTM Glycated Albumin assay kit

CSR & Quality

We at Asahi Kasei believe that our corporate social responsibility (CSR) is to realize the Group Mission of “contributing to life and living for people around the world” and to be of assistance to everyone who is involved with our business activities. We also established quality policies under the responsibility of management that are based on the mission statements of both the Asahi Kasei Group and Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation.

Find out more about CSR & Quality

Built upon the brewing techniques instilled within our DNA from having started as a sake brewery

Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation originally started from the Asahi Kasei Group and Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd., which was the successor to the sake brewery Wakita Shuzo.
The Ohito district of Izunokuni-shi in Shizuoka Prefecture, where our main manufacturing and research sites are located, was originally a sake brewing factory.
The brewing techniques from that time have served as the keystone for developing and manufacturing enzymes and the diagnostic products that use them.
The brewing techniques that have been accumulated for nearly a century are still engraved in the DNA of the people who work there.

Wakita Shuzo sake brewery barrel installation site
Pouring Toyo Jozo’s main product, Chikara Masamune, into barrels
1920
Establishment of Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd., successor to sake brewery Wakita Shuzo
Penicillin in its early days and “diastase,” which was our main product at the time
Early penicillin manufacturing plant
1920
Penicillin launched
We started manufacturing and selling antibiotic agents, which would later become one of our major business lines.
We made use of our fermentation techniques to enable us to be among the first to begin researching enzymes and developing diagnostic products.
1958
Asahi Kasei acquired capital in Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd.
T-01 is still being used today to measure triglycerides
1974
Development of enzyme for triglyceride measurement
The first enzyme developed by Asahi Kasei Pharma was lipase (T-01), which is used to measure triglycerides.
It was developed as a by-product from the production of penicillin.
The production number “T-01” comes from the first letter in Toyo Jozo.
Enzyme cycling method that enables highly sensitive measurements
1976
Development of enzyme cycling method
The sensitivity limit of regular enzyme assays was said to be 10-⁵ mol/L. However, we were the first to aim for and start developing highly sensitive diagnostic drugs that employ an enzyme cycling method that uses cycling reactions to quantify amplified target substance. We have proposed a measurement method using this enzyme cycling method. (Bile acids, ketone bodies, carnitine fraction, myo-Inositol, ammonia, etc.)
Ohito headquarters building (current district building)
1982
Ohito headquarters building (current district building) completed
1992
Development & sales of human enzymes through genetic engineering technologies
We succeeded in developing and achieving the stable manufacture of eight types of genetically engineered human enzymes that are required to promote standardization to obtain the same results from the same sample, regardless of location, time or person measuring.
They have been adopted as reference enzymes by the Japanese Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (JCCLS).
These products are helping to improve accuracy in measuring enzymes that used to have large variations in values.
Overall view of the Ohito district (1989)
1992
Merger of Toyo Jozo Co., Ltd. and Asahi Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.
Column designated for glycated albumin measurement
1993
Development of measurement column for glycated albumin in the blood
We developed a column for measuring glycated albumin in the blood. This column, along with related measuring equipment, was launched by Kyoto Daiichi Kagaku as a new glycated albumin measurement system.
2001
Change of company name to Asahi Kasei Corporation
2003
Established as Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation following the transition to a "split company/holding company configuration”
LucicaTM Glycated Albumin Assay Kit (Liquid Reagent) in Japan
2004
Launch of the LucicaTM Glycated Albumin Assay Kit (Liquid Reagent) in Japan
We launched LucicaTM Glycated Albumin assay kit that utilizes our unique enzyme method. This liquid reagent is used for monitoring blood glucose control over the preceding two to three weeks in diabetes.
Launch of LucicaTM MI Assay Kit for Myo-Inositol measurement in Japan
2008
Launch of LucicaTM MI Assay Kit for Myo-Inositol measurement in Japan
LucicaTM MI assay kit was launched as Japan’s first in-vitro diagnostic product for measuring myo-Inositol (MI) in urine. This reagent helps screen for impaired glucose tolerance, which cannot be determined by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) testing alone.
New LucicaTM Glycated Albumin Assay Kit in Japan
2022
Launch of the New LucicaTM Glycated Albumin Assay Kit in Japan
In response to standardization of glycated albumin being promoted by the Committee on Diabetes Mellitus Indices of the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry, the new LucicaTM Glycated Albumin assay kit was launched, which ensures traceability to reference standard material JCCRM611.

Access to Ohito Diagnostics Plant

410-2321
632-1 Mifuku, Izunokuni-shi, Shizuoka, Japan
Tel: +81-558-76-7059

15-minute walk from Takyo Station on the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line

Access to the head office

100-0006
Hibiya Mitsui Tower, 1-1-2 Yurakucho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81-3-6699-3617

  • Directly connected to the A5 Exit and A11 Exit of Hibiya Station on the Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, and Toei Mita Line
  • 4-minute walk from Yurakucho Station on the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
  • 5-minute walk from Ginza Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line, and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line
  • 5-minute walk from Yurakucho Station on the JR Yamanote Line and JR Keihin-Tohoku Line