Contributing to the Innovation and Enhanced Quality of Biopharmaceuticals Through AJICAP® Antibody-Drug Conjugate Technology

TOKYO, October 31, 2025 – Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (“Ajinomoto Co.”) has signed a licensing agreement with Astellas Pharma Inc. (“Astellas”) for the use of AJICAP®—a proprietary antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing technology—as part of its CDMO (contract development and manufacturing organization) business for biopharmaceutical development. AJICAP® enables precise and stable conjugation of drugs to proteins such as antibodies, thus significantly improving the flexibility of molecular design and the efficiency of development and manufacturing of ADCs and other next-generation biopharmaceuticals. Through this partnership, Ajinomoto Co. will support Astellas in its research and manufacturing of innovative next-generation ADCs, contributing to the creation of safe and effective treatment options.

ADCs are expected to offer effective treatment with fewer side effects, and growing demand—particularly in oncology—combined with ongoing technological advancements, is driving rapid market expansion. The global ADC market is projected to grow from USD 10.8 billion in 2023 to USD 47.0 billion by 2029, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.4%*1.

*1) Source:“Antibody Drug Conjugates: Technologies and Global Markets”, BCC Research 2024

Astellas, in addition to PADCEV™ (ADC designed to target nectin-4*2) is advancing ADC research and development activities in the oncology field through collaborations with partners worldwide, with several ADC candidates already in clinical development.

*2) Antigen that functions in cell adhesion process. Development of ADCs that utilizes the characteristics of antigens that show excessive reactions in cancer cells is attracting attention as a treatment method.

Despite the growing ADC market, technical challenges remain in ADC development and manufacturing, particularly the need to stabilize the molecular link between antibody and drug to improve precision*3. AJICAP® offers site-specific and uniform drug conjugation to antibodies, helping to improve product quality and streamline manufacturing processes compared to conventional technologies. By preserving the antibody’s original function while delivering the drug precisely, AJICAP® enables the development of safer and more effective therapeutics.

*3) Reference: Antibody-Drug Conjugate Overview: a State-of-the-art Manufacturing Process and Control Strategy | Pharmaceutical Research, Springer Nature Link February 2024

Through this licensing agreement, Ajinomoto Co. will contribute to the provision of uniform quality for Astellas Pharma’s development candidates, while Astellas will aim to deliver new treatment options to patients facing diseases by developing and commercializing the selected candidates. This initiative further expands the application of Ajinomoto Group’s core strength in AminoScience, and is positioned as part of a broader global technology collaboration in the biopharmaceutical sector. Ajinomoto Group will continue to serve its purpose in “contributing to the well-being of all human beings, our society, and our planet” by supporting the robust growth of its core healthcare business through biopharmaceutical technologies such as AJICAP®, as well as providing CDMO services to its customers.

Reference

■Overview of Astellas Pharma Inc.

(1) Company Name: Astellas Pharma Inc.

(2) Location: Tokyo, Japan

(3) Established: 2005 (established through the merger of the former Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd and former Fujisawa Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)

(4) Representative: Naoki Okamura, President and Chief Executive Officer

(5) Business Description: Manufacturing, marketing, and import/export of pharmaceuticals

(6) Number of Employees: 13,643 (Consolidated, March 2025)

(7) Website: https://www.astellas.com/en/

■Introduction of Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services

https://ajibio-pharma.ajinomoto.com/

For details on Ajinomoto Co. and the Ajinomoto Group, visit www.ajinomoto.com

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