Announcement Regarding the Acquisition of OP Biofactory as a Subsidiary
– Accelerating Research and Development and Commercialization of Marine Biological Resources Under the Phytoscience Concept –
August 4, 2026
ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head office: Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture; President and Representative Director: Hidetoshi Segi) is pleased to announce that it has acquired shares of OP Biofactory Co., Ltd. (Head office: Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture; Representative Director: Akihiko Kanemoto; hereinafter referred to as "OPBio"), which promotes research and development of marine biological resources and microalgae, and has made it a group company of Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Background and Objectives.
Under the Rohto Group's Management Vision 2030, "Connect for Well-being & Longevity," we are promoting the "Phytoscience Initiative," which scientifically elucidates the potential of naturally derived resources, including plants and algae, and utilizes them to benefit people's health and well-being. We are working to unravel unknown possibilities through the power of science, create new value that meets the needs of our customers and patients, and implement it in society.
Since its founding in 2006, OPBio has leveraged Okinawa's abundant marine resources to conduct comprehensive research and development, from the exploration of previously underutilized marine biological resources to component analysis, development of cultivation technologies, functional evaluation, construction of production processes, and commercialization. In particular, we are promoting research and development on cultivation technologies for the microalga "Pavlova" and functional components such as fucoxanthin and EPA. This aligns well with our phytoscience concept and provides us with a research and development foundation that can contribute to its realization.
The two companies have previously collaborated on research and development related to marine biological resources. By making OPBio a member of the Rohto Group, we will combine the research and development capabilities and business foundations of both companies to further accelerate our efforts toward realizing a longevity society that leverages the potential of marine biological resources.
Future developments
The microalga "Pavlova" is one of the representative marine biological resources that OPBio has been researching and developing production technologies for as a material. In the future, in addition to further functional research and application development, we will also work on new research areas such as "phytoexosome" research, which focuses on extracellular vesicles derived from marine microalgae, and will promote the expansion of products and businesses both domestically and internationally by utilizing the business foundation and network of the Rohto Group.
Our group will continue to explore the potential of diverse marine biological resources, including pavlova, and challenge ourselves to create new value in the fields of beauty, health, and longevity, while contributing to the development of the marine bio-industry together with our customers and partners.
About OP Biofactory Co., Ltd.
| location |
5-8 Suzaki, Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture |
| Establishment |
2006 |
| representative |
Representative Director: Akihiko Kanemoto |
| Business details |
Exploration, cultivation, and analysis of marine biological resources; development of functional ingredients; collaborative research and development; and support for product commercialization. |
| URL |
https://www.opbio.com/ |
Impact on performance
The impact of this matter on our consolidated financial results for fiscal year 2026 is expected to be minor. We will promptly inform you of any further matters that require disclosure in the future.