History
Foundation: 1950s to 1970s
In the 1950s, knowledge and technology related to animal healthcare made slower advances in Japan than in Western countries. Under these circumstances, we imported the first canine distemper vaccine into Japan from the Netherlands in 1955. We continued to market high-quality vaccines and veterinary medicines, thereby linking the overseas and Japanese markets. We were also among the first to tackle the issues in veterinary medicine of infection control for livestock animals, in addition to dogs and cats.
| 1955 | Established Kyoritsu Shoji Co., Ltd., in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (present location). |
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| Imported canine distemper vaccine. | |
| 1961 | Started marketing Esbilac powder (formula for dogs and cats). |
| 1968 | Completed Tsukuba Central Research Laboratory. |
| 1969 | Started production of vaccines for Newcastle's disease |
| 1972 | Established Aesop Pharmaceuticals Ltd.(currently Sun Ibis Corporation). |
Growth: 1980s to 1990s
An increasing number of people kept pets as lives became more stable in the 1980s and thereafter. The number of veterinarians also increased significantly. For a variety of factors, including diversified lifestyles and dietary habits, the safety and security of food attracted social attention. Thus, to meet the ever-increasing needs of society under these circumstances, we imported and marketed pharmaceuticals and started full-scale in-house development and manufacturing. We have pursued the prevention and treatment of diseases and infection control with our broad product portfolio. We have also actively disseminated information concerning animal health and healthcare. In this way, we have set in place the culture of regarding pets as family members in Japan. We have also established the availability of safe, secure, high-quality, and delicious livestock and aquaculture products, which has become a standard in Japan.
| 1986 | Started marketing Poulvac MD cvi (frozen live vaccine for Marek’s disease; Marek’s disease virus type I). |
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| 1989 | Business alliance with Masterfoods (US) (acquired by ROYAL CANIN in 2002). |
| 1993 | Business alliance with Toray Industries, Inc. |
| 1994 | Started marketing Intercat, the world's first interferon preparation for dogs and cats. |
| 1995 | Cosponsored the WORLD VETERINARY ASSOCIATION in Yokohama as a major sponsor. |
| 1997 | Established T Cell Research Institute, Ltd. |
| Started marketing Vets Plan, a balanced food service from Master Foods. | |
| 1999 | Participated in the microchip registration project of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association. |
| Started marketing Suvaxyn Aujeszky (live vaccine for swine Aujeszky’s disease). |
Expansion: 2000s onward
Since the 2000s, the population of Japan has peaked, and the number of pets, livestock, and aquaculture animals is decreasing. In the meantime, social needs have become further diversified and individualized, including aging pets, more stringent hygiene control at livestock and aquaculture settings, and the more efficient management of veterinary clinics and livestock and aquaculture businesses.
In the pet area, we have promoted microchipping, supported rehoming of shelter dogs and cats, and started the development of an animal healthcare platform comprising an EMD system. In the livestock and aquaculture area, we were among the first to start supporting the introduction of HACCP, a hygiene management method.
| 2001 | Changed the company name from Kyoritsu Shoji Co., Ltd., to Kyoritsu Seiyaku Corporation. |
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| 2002 | Received 100% shares of Denka Seiyaku K.K from Denka Company Limited. |
| Changed the name of Tsukuba Central Research Laboratory to Advanced Technology Development Center. | |
| Started support for the introduction of HACCP. | |
| 2003 | Changed the name of Denka Seiyaku K.K., to Kawasaki Seiyaku K.K. |
| Received 100% shares of Mitaka Seiyaku K.K. from Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation and Intervet Holding B.V. | |
| 2004 | Established Kawasaki-Mitaka Seiyaku K.K. by integrating Kawasaki Seiyaku K.K., and Mitaka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. |
| 2006 | Business alliance with Suntory Spirits Limited Started marketing Pet Health Sesamin E (supplement for animals). |
| 2007 | Participated in Japan Aqua Space, an industry-academia-administration joint research project in Kochi Prefecture. |
| 2009 | Changed the name of Kawasaki-Mitaka Seiyaku K.K. to Kawasaki Seiyaku K.K. |
| Started marketing Mastrytine(anti-inflammatory drug of intramammary infusion) | |
| 2010 | Integrated with Kawasaki Seiyaku K.K. |
| Started marketing Adrestan (treatment for hyperadrenocorticism). | |
| 2012 | Relocated head office to 1-11-5 Kudankita, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. |
| Integrated with NEW EPOLEON CORPORATION. | |
| Started marketing Mimipure (treatment for otitis externa in dogs). | |
| 2013 | Started marketing Avian Salmonella Triple KS (triple inactivated vaccines against avian salmonella). |
| Started marketing Johne's Gean KS(genetic screening kit for Johne's disease) | |
| Opened Veterinary Adoption, a matching website for rehoming shelter dogs and cats. | |
| Established Japan Microchip Network Corporation. | |
| 2015 | Started marketing PimobeHeart Tablet (Pimobendan preparation for chronic heart failure in dogs). |
| 2016 | Business alliance with Unicharm Corporation. |
| 2017 | Established CARUS ANIMAL HEALTH LIMITED in the UK. |
| Started operation of AI Dr. Holmes, a pet health consultation service (service ended in 2021). | |
| Started marketing RAPROS (treatment for chronic kidney diseases in cats). | |
| Started marketing Fiprospot Plus (flea and tick repellent). | |
| 2019 | Started operation of VRAINERS®, an animal healthcare platform (service ended in 2023). |
| Established a joint venture with THE SPIRIT JINYU BIOLOGICAL PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD China. | |
| Reorganized under Kyoritsu Holding Corporation. | |
| 2020 | Opened CHIKUSAN NAVI, an online medium for employees at livestock farms. |
| 2022 | Opened KS Online, an online store that connects veterinary clinics with owners of dogs and cats. |
| Relocated head office to Kudan-Kaikan Terrace, 1-6-5 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. |