GNI Group to Acquire Ayumi Pharmaceutical for ¥44.8 Billion, Building a Cross-Pacific Biopharmaceutical Platform
核心洞察
GNI Group (搜索) has agreed to acquire 100% of Ayumi Pharmaceutical Holdings (搜索) from shareholders led by Blackstone (搜索) in a deal valued at approximately ¥44.8 billion.
Ayumi's flagship product Calonal (搜索)® holds over 80% of Japan's domestic acetaminophen market, with the company reporting ¥38.5 billion in revenue for fiscal 2026.
The combined entity expects fiscal 2026 revenue of approximately ¥65.2 billion and will focus on fibrosis, pain management, rheumatology, oncology, and orthopedics.
GNI Group (搜索) Co., Ltd. (TSE: 2160) announced on June 7, 2026, that it has entered into an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Ayumi Pharmaceutical Holdings (搜索) Co., Ltd. from shareholders led by Blackstone (搜索). The transaction values Ayumi Pharmaceutical Holdings at approximately ¥44.8 billion and will make the company a wholly owned subsidiary of GNI Group, marking a significant consolidation in Japan's specialty pharmaceutical landscape.
The acquisition establishes a large-scale pharmaceutical platform in Japan and is expected to accelerate the introduction of innovative therapies, biosimilars, and internally developed products into the Japanese market. Following the transaction, GNI Group (搜索) expects combined fiscal 2026 revenue to reach approximately ¥65.2 billion.
Ying Luo, President and CEO of GNI Group (搜索), characterized the deal as "a monumental milestone in the execution of our long-term strategy to establish ourselves as a cross-Pacific biopharmaceutical powerhouse." Luo emphasized that integrating Ayumi's domestic commercial infrastructure and pain management portfolio positions the company "to bring a greater pipeline of innovative products directly to patients facing unmet medical needs across Japan."
Ayumi's Market Position and Financial Profile
Ayumi Pharmaceutical is a specialty pharmaceutical company with leading positions in pain management and rheumatology. Its flagship product, Calonal (搜索)® (acetaminophen), commands more than 80% of Japan's domestic acetaminophen market. The company also maintains a broad portfolio of products serving rheumatology and orthopedic patients and operates a nationwide commercial network reaching healthcare institutions throughout Japan.
For the fiscal year ended March 2026, Ayumi Pharmaceutical reported revenue of approximately ¥38.5 billion and operating profit of approximately ¥6.2 billion on a consolidated basis.
Atsuhiko Sakamoto, Head of Private Equity at Blackstone (搜索) Japan, noted that Ayumi was Blackstone's "first control private equity investment in Japan" and reflected the firm's focus on building resilient businesses. "We partnered with management to strengthen the company's foundation, accelerated growth, and established its leadership position in the market," Sakamoto said.
Strategic Rationale and Therapeutic Focus
The transaction is expected to substantially increase GNI Group (搜索)'s scale, expanding its employee base, product portfolio, and development pipeline. The combined organization will focus on five key therapeutic areas: fibrosis, pain management, rheumatology, oncology, and orthopedics.
Key strategic benefits outlined by the companies include the establishment of a large-scale, recurring revenue platform in Japan that creates new licensing and commercialization opportunities; expansion of GNI Group (搜索)'s capabilities in rheumatology, orthopedics, and pain management; and enhanced ability to introduce overseas pharmaceuticals and biosimilars into Japan through Ayumi's market access and distribution capabilities.
The acquisition also diversifies GNI Group (搜索)'s geographic revenue base across Japan, China, and the United States, supporting long-term sustainable growth while strengthening cash generation and financial stability.
Corporate Profiles
GNI Group (搜索) is a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan with operations spanning Japan, China, the United States, and Australia. The company is engaged in pharmaceutical development and commercialization, drug discovery, and medical technology businesses. GNI Group holds a controlling interest in Gyre Therapeutics, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company focused on fibrosis, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
Blackstone (搜索), the selling shareholder leading the transaction, is the world's largest alternative asset manager with over $1.3 trillion in assets under management, including global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, and other sectors.