Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd.

History

Year	Detail
1916	Hanji Souma founded Meiji in 1916 as a confectionery company whose origins were in sugar refining. It then added a dairy business and began releasing successful products.
1926	The company imported manufacturing machinery from Germany and invited chocolate makers to guide production techniques. This initiative led to the release of Meiji Milk Chocolate.
1940s	The company began manufacturing penicillin and other antibiotics, expanding its portfolio in the pharmaceutical business.
1961	The Meiji Group established a primary antibiotic research center and entered the agricultural chemicals market with GIBBERELLIN, a plant growth regulator.
1971	The company released Japan's first plain yogurt, offering health benefits and genuine quality.
1985	The company released renewed Meiji Bulgaria Yogurt made with LB51 lactic acid bacteria.
1995	The company released the VAAM brand of amino acid sports drinks. These products have remained essential for the training routines for all kinds of people engaged in sports and fitness.
2008	The company released the calcium channel blocker AMLODIPINE MEIJI, a generic drug.
2009	The company commercialized the drug REFLEX in Japan, which was approved for depression.
2009	Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd. and Meiji Dairies Corporation established the Joint Holding Company, Meiji Holdings Co., Ltd., using share transfer.
2011	One of the company's subsidiaries, Meiji Co., Ltd, established Meiji Dairies Co., Ltd. in China to produce milk, yogurt, and other dairy products at its Suzhou, Jiangsu Province plant.
2013	The company acquired Medreich Ltd., which manufactures and markets a range of pharmaceutical preparations in categories such as cardiovascular, diabetes, antifungal, penicillins, and respiratory, for $290 million. The acquisition helped Meiji to expand its generic drugs portfolio and gain a foothold in India.
2015	The company collaborated with Solasia Pharma K.K. to develop and commercialize darinaparsin in Japan. Darinaparsin is a novel mitochondrial-targeted agent being developed for the treatment of various hematologic and solid cancers.
2015	Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. signed a co-marketing agreement in December 2015 to market and share information about a product for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria.
2016	The company collaborated with Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and launched Bilanoa Tablets 20 mg, an oral anti-allergy drug, in Japan.
2017	The company entered into a licensing agreement with Eisai Co. Ltd to commercialize safinamide for treating Parkinson's disease In Japan and Asia.
2019	The company established Meiji Dairies Co. Ltd, a China-based company that produces and sells milk and yogurt products, thus expanding its dairy sales in China.
2020	The company partnered with Kadom Corporation LLC to form a joint venture to develop and commercialize KD025 in Japan and other Asian countries.
2020	The company acquired a 25% stake in AustAsia Investment Holding Pte LTD, which operates dairy farms in China. The deal, which cost $254 million, allowed the company to expand its dairy business in China.
2020	The company entered into a business partnership with Danone to produce infant formula tablets for the European market.
2021	The company established a U.S. subsidiary, Meiji Pharma USA Inc., to expand its activities in the U.S., initially focusing on facilitating clinical development.
2021	Meiji established a new company in Vietnam, Meiji Food Vietnam, located in Hanoi, to expand its infant formula business further.
2022	The company established Meiji Animal Health Co., Ltd. in April 2022 when Meiji Group's pharmaceutical sector integrated KM Biologics and Meiji Seika Pharma's veterinary medicine divisions.
2024	The company opened a new office in Boston, U.S., to pursue innovative drug and technology investment opportunities. The office will help Meiji Seika Pharma invest in startups and venture capital firms focusing on drug discovery and innovative platform technology.