About the Diagnostics Division｜Asahi Kasei Pharma 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 LUCICA^TM GA-L Assay Kit, a glycated albumin reagent that uses a unique enzyme method, and have been manufacturing and selling it since 2004. In 2022, we launched the LUCICA^TM GA-L2 Assay Kit as a reagent that meets the need for a reference standard material for measurement of GA. LUCICA^TM 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.

LUCICA^TM GA-L2

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”

Glycated albumin measuring reagent LUCICA^TM GA-L Assay Kit

2004

Launch of the GA liquid measuring reagent LUCICA^TM GA-L Assay Kit

We launched the glycated albumin (GA) measuring reagent LUCICA^TM GA-L Assay Kit that utilizes our unique enzyme method. Glycated albumin is used for blood sugar control in diabetes.

Launch of Myo-Inositol measuring reagent LUCICA^TM MI Assay Kit

2008

Launch of Myo-Inositol measuring reagent LUCICA^TM MI Assay Kit

LUCICA^TM MI Assay Kit was launched as Japan’s first in-vitro diagnostic product for measuring myo-Inositol (MI) in urine. This is a testing agent that can screen for impaired glucose tolerance, which cannot be determined by fasting plasma glucose (FPG) testing alone.

Glycated albumin measuring reagent LUCICA^TM GA-L2 Assay Kit

2022

Launch of the GA liquid measuring reagent LUCICA^TM GA-L2 Assay Kit, which addresses the need for standardized glucose measurement

In response to standardization of glycated albumin being promoted by the Committee on Diabetes Mellitus Indices of the Japan Society of Clinical Chemistry, the LUCICA^TM GA-L2 Assay Kit was launched, which ensures traceability to reference standard material JCCRM611.
Good correlation was achieved between the measurement values from the LUCICA^TM GA-L2 Assay Kit and the LUCICA^TM GA-L Assay Kit.

About the Diagnostics Division

What the Diagnostics Division offers

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

In-vitro diagnostic products that utilize our unique enzyme method

CSR & Quality

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

Access to Ohito Diagnostics Plant

Access to the head office