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As one of the crucial management tasks in its sixth mid-term management plan, Zeria is actively pursuing M&A and alliances that will strengthen both its Ethical Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Healthcare businesses.
Our M&A initiatives have already yielded significant results. In October 2008, Zeria acquired IONA INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, which is renowned for the IONA® brand of basic skin care products. In September 2009, Zeria acquired all shares of Swiss-based company Tillotts Pharma AG, the developer of ulcerative colitis remedy Asacol® Tablets 400mg.
Zeria expects these two acquisitions to create a host of synergies in its Ethical Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Healthcare businesses as well as make large contributions to further enhancing the Zeria Group's mid- and long-term business performance. In addition to augmenting and strengthening the Ethical Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Healthcare businesses, these acquisitions also have tremendous potential in making the cosmetics and overseas pharmaceuticals businesses new pillars of the Company in the future.
Looking ahead, Zeria will continue striving to uncover new seeds for businesses that can grow to become future pillars of our operations and thereby further strengthen our operating foundation. We will also carefully cultivate these business seeds with the aim of raising our corporate value. |
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| Tillotts' Ziefen Plant (Switzerland) |
Tillotts is a globally oriented Specialty Pharma with notable expertise in lower gastrointestinal fields. Tillotts offers products for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), as exemplified by Asacol®, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). In January 2004, Zeria concluded a contract with Tillotts for the in-licensing of Asacol® in Japan.
Tillotts developed Asacol®, which was subsequently approved in Switzerland in 1984 and has since become available in over 60 countries worldwide including various countries where the rights to Asacol® have been divested (such as, but not limited to, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom). This mainstay product has secured an approximately 50% market share in the United States, the world's largest market for IBD treatment agents, and also commands the top global market share in this field.
By making Tillotts a wholly owned subsidiary, Zeria has also acquired the rights to Asacol® in over 50 countries in Europe, the Middle East and other regions around the world (excluding some countries such as the United States and Canada). At the same time, Tillotts will strive to expand business in new regions such as Southeast Asia and also plans to accelerate efforts to strengthen the Asacol® line extension for further growth.
Zeria, which specializes in the gastrointestinal field in the Ethical Pharmaceuticals business, will be able to strengthen its product pipeline targeting the lower gastrointestinal tract through Asacol® and the Asacol® line extension and expects to generate various synergies in this field. In the Consumer Healthcare business, new OTC drugs (direct OTC), such as Colpermin® and other western herbal products, are planned for development.
By utilizing Tillotts' sales network, Zeria will be able to expand its global business in Ethical Pharmaceuticals and OTC drugs, as well as with regard to new drugs under development. |
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| Tillotts' Asacol® range of products |
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| Tillotts' Asacol® brochure |
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| IONA INTERNATIONAL's
Fukushima Industrial Park |
For more than three decades, IONA INTERNATIONAL has been engaged in manufacturing and selling cosmetics. Sold at pharmacies, drug stores and beauty salons across Japan, the IONA® brand has established its own unique position as a series of outstanding basic cosmetics products.
With IONA as a wholly owned subsidiary, Zeria adds a new line of basic skin care products to its lineup, thereby making its full-scale entry into the cosmetics field.
By combining and mutually supplementing the Zeria Group's technologies in pharmaceuticals and beauty supplements with IONA's technologies and expertise in cosmetics, we will strive to create various synergies that will help create new possibilities in product development and sales. Also, with the addition of IONA INTERNATIONAL's cosmetics manufacturing base (Fukushima Industrial Park) to Zeria's Saitama Plant and Tsukuba Plant, we are further strengthening and enhancing our production structure by expanding the types of items produced. |
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RitornoTM line of cosmetics/supplements
co-developed by Zeria and IONA INTERNATIONAL |
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| IONA® series of basic cosmetic products |
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