KIRIN R&D DAY 2025 Held for the First Time in Five Years – Announcement of R&D Strategies for Sustainable Growth

TOKYO, January 22, 2026 - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings) held the “KIRIN R&D DAY 2025” event on December 17, 2025※1, focusing on the research and development of the Kirin Group for the first time in five years.
On the day of the event, presentations were made on the past, present, and future of research and development (R&D) in the business domains of Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Health Science, and Pharmaceuticals. The event showcased the development of a business portfolio built on fermentation technology and biotechnology, examples of R&D achievements in each domain, and future initiatives aimed at addressing social issues. Furthermore, the Group’s policies for sustainable growth and enhancement of corporate value, as well as the creation of a virtuous cycle through reinvestment of cash generated from business growth, were shared with stakeholders as the vision for the future of the Kirin Group.
※1 Materials and videos　KIRIN R＆D DAY 2025 | IR Events Releases and Presentations Archive | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

1. Execution of R&D Strategies Supporting the Sustainable Growth of the Kirin Group

President & COO Takeshi Minakata explained that the Kirin Group has established solid business foundations in Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Health Science, and Pharmaceuticals, and that the development of a business portfolio leveraging fermentation technology and biotechnology as core competencies is steadily progressing. He emphasized the importance of R&D in the Group’s growth strategy, highlighting that record-high normalized operating profits were achieved for two consecutive years in fiscal 2023 and 2024, driven by the accumulation of innovation anchored in R&D. By continuously strengthening R&D investment, Kirin realizes business growth and reinvests the resulting cash into organizational capabilities, creating a virtuous cycle of sustainable growth and enhanced corporate value. He also expressed the Group’s commitment to further accelerating innovation, aiming to achieve both social value creation and improved profitability.

2. R&D Investment Increased by about 1.5 Times – Tackling Global Challenges

Senior Executive Officer, President of R&D Daisuke Fujiwara stated that Kirin will go beyond the boundaries of Japanese companies and tackle global social issues with advanced technologies such as fermentation biotechnology and AI drug discovery. The Kirin Group will unite its R&D capabilities to address diverse challenges, including securing biological resources, infectious disease risks, aging societies, and unmet medical needs. By 2035, R&D expenses※2 will be increased to 1.5 times the 2024 level, and as part of R&D investment, Kirin announced a plan to invest 3.5 billion yen in the Institute for Technology of Microbial Science in Yamaguchi Prefecture starting in 2026. The Group is also committed to fostering an environment where individual researchers can fully demonstrate their skills and ideas, with an emphasis on basic research to deliver new value to society.
※2 R&D expenses in the Food & Health Science business (excluding Kyowa Kirin's R&D expenses).

3. Short Presentations by Five Young “Star Researchers”

Five Young “Star Researchers” presented the latest research attracting attention from the three domains of Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic Beverages, Health Science, and Pharmaceuticals※3.
※3 Presentation materials Short Presentations by Five Young “Star Researchers”PDF：4.5MB

1) KHK4951(Tivozanib eyedrop for retinal diseases)

Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. Shinya Horita

Development of a nano-crystal ophthalmic formulation containing tivozanib, a small-molecule drug originating from Kirin’s pharmaceutical research. Aiming to establish non-invasive treatment for patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME), global clinical trials are currently underway in Japan and the US.

2) AI-driven functional simulation leveraging a drug-based DX platform

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited Institute of Health Sciences Dai Nogimura

Discovery of a new gut–brain mechanism targeting citicoline, with expansion toward overseas product development.
Kirin and Fujitsu Elucidate a Novel Gut–Brain Axis Mechanism of Citicoline for the First Time Worldwide through AI–Based Analysis and Experimental Validation Leveraging Drug Discovery DX Technology | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited

3) LC-Plasma : Driving global expansion through R&D
～Clinical Trials to Support Global Health Claims～

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. Institute of Health Sciences Emiri Hiramoto

Aiming to obtain efficacy evidence that meets regulatory requirements in various countries for global deployment as an infection control material.

4) Approaches to Immunity Visualization and Immune Care※4 Awareness

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited Institute of Health Sciences Yukiko Kato

Promoting services to assess immune status via urine testing, with the goal of establishing immune care habits throughout society.
※4 A healthy lifestyle that supports immune function, including a regular daily routine, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, and moderate physical activity, is recommended.

5) Advancing Beer Flavor Innovation with Kirin’s Preference AI “FJWLA”

Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd. Institute for Future Beverages Yuto Fujiwara

Advancing beer flavor development and creating highly preferred products, strengthening competitiveness through AI utilization.
(Japanese only) Related Press Release December 15,2025 https://www.kirinholdings.com/jp/newsroom/release/2025/1212_01.html
(Japanese only) Related Press Release December 17,2025 https://www.kirinholdings.com/jp/newsroom/release/2025/1217_02.html

4. Special Roundtable Discussion: Aging Care Research and the Kirin Group’s Initiatives

Chief Professor, Department of Clinical Health Science, School of Medicine, Tokai University Yasuhiro Nishizaki
Director, FANCL Research Institute Sachiyuki Teramoto
Head, Research and Development Unit, Health Science Research Institute Jun Hirata

During the special roundtable discussion, there was an active exchange of opinions on the latest trends in anti-aging research and the possibilities for its implementation in society. Advanced research findings were introduced, such as FANCL’s discovery of the senescent cell–clearing effect of Agrimonia pilosa (Kinmizuhiki), and Kirin’s focus on the skin moisture retention and improvement effects of the koji-derived component “14-DHE (koji sterol).” The social significance and future prospects of these findings were discussed in depth among the panelists. Agrimonia pilosa is expected to be used as a multifunctional material, while 14-DHE holds promise for applications in the fields of beauty and health. The discussion explored from multiple perspectives how the development of new materials utilizing fermentation and bioscience can contribute to solving the challenges of an aging society and creating new markets.

5. Research poster exhibition

A poster exhibition showcasing 14 research projects, including presentation sessions, was successfully held. The event fostered dynamic engagement and meaningful dialogue between attending stakeholders and our researchers.

Poster Exhibition List (excluding 3. Presentation Topics)

Research Theme	Reference Information
Mechanistic Insights into Lactobacillus paracasei KW3110 and Future Directions	Lacticaseibacillus paracasei KW3110 Confirmed to Alleviate Mild to Moderate Hay Fever Symptoms | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Exploring Novel "Gut Care" Possibilities Using Intestinal Organoids	Kirin and the University of Tokyo Achieve World’s First Confirmation that Cellular Senescence Reduces Nutrient Absorption Using Human iPS Cell-Derived Intestinal Organoids | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Securing Hop Quality Under Climate Change	KIRIN Develops Technology to Enhance Heat and Drought Tolerance in Hop Seedlings Contributing to a Sustainable Supply of Beer Ingredients Amid Climate Change | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
PET Chemical Recycling	(Japanes only)Related Press Release_December 15,2023 Cross-industry collaboration in PET chemical recycling to expand sourcing of feedstocks for non-food contact materials | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
The "Electric Salt" is a piece of tableware that uses electricity to enhance the salty and umami taste of reduced-salt foods.	Kirin Launches New "Electric Salt Cup" and Upgraded Spoon to Support Delicious Low-Sodium Diets | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Development of the “Kirin Gogo-no-Kocha Ice Tea Glass Bottle” — Achieving Both Design Excellence and Packaging Resource Reduction —	(Japanese only)Related Press Release_August 27, 2025
The New “Sugo-Awa” Beer Tap — Engineered for Exceptionally Creamy Foam and Superior Retention —	(Japanese only)Related Press Release_May 5, 2024
Tackling Mosquito-borne infectious disease challenges in Malaysia and Southeast Asia	Lactococcus lactis Strain Plasma（LC-Plasma） Found to Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza Virus Growth, with Findings Presented at an International Conference in Thailand | 2025 | KIRIN - Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
Development of Anti-Aging Materials (Koji Mold and Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.)	(Japanese only)Related Press Release_March 6, 2025 (https://www.fancl.jp/news/20250025/news_20250025.html) (Japanese only)Related Press Release_January 30, 2020

About Kirin Holdings

Kirin Holdings Company, Limited is an international company that operates in the Food & Beverages domain (Food & Beverages businesses), Pharmaceuticals domain (Pharmaceuticals businesses), and Health Science domain (Health Science business), both in Japan and across the globe.

Kirin Holdings can trace its roots to Japan Brewery, which was established in 1885. Japan Brewery became Kirin Brewery in 1907. Since then, the company has expanded its business with fermentation and biotechnology as its core technologies, and entered the pharmaceutical business in the 1980s, all of which continue to be global growth centers. In 2007, Kirin Holdings was established as a pure holding company and is currently focusing on boosting its Health Science domain.

Under the Kirin Group Vision 2027 (KV 2027), a long-term management plan launched in 2019, the Kirin Group aims to become “A global leader in CSV*, creating value across our world of Food & Beverages to Pharmaceuticals”. Going forward, the Kirin Group will continue to leverage its strengths to create both social and economic value through its businesses, with the aim of achieving sustainable growth in corporate value.

* Creating Shared Value. Combined added value for consumers and society at large.

GALLERY