Contribution to life，healthcare

Initiatives for clean tech

Life/Healthcare field

　For pharmaceuticals, we are developing functional lipids and activated PEG as DDS materials for biopharmaceuticals through means such as precision synthesis and advanced refining technologies. We are developing monodispersed PEG for antibody and nucleic acid drugs and ionic lipids for nucleic acid delivery. For medical care, we are developing the LIPIDURE® Series for areas such as eye care, diagnostic pharmaceuticals, and medical equipment-related fields, and are also developing high-function materials for the regenerative medicine sector. For cosmetics, we have a wealth of expertise in areas such as biocompatible materials, natural bioavailable substances, interface control technology, and mix design technology. We use this expertise to respond rapidly to functional advances.

  • There are four transparent bottles lined up, each containing a colorless, transparent liquid.
  • This is a close-up of the face as the person is about to put on their contact lenses.

Contribute to social issues

Contributing to improvement of patients’ quality of life
(improving access to pharmaceuticals)
　DDS is a technology that enhances the effects of drugs by adjusting their physiological activity, targeting lesions, yielding chemical stability, adjusting metabolic activity, and other means, so that they act at the required place in the body in the required amount for the required time. This technology makes it possible to reduce the side effects of drugs and the frequency of daily injections, thereby contributing to improving the QOL of patients who need these drugs and improving access to pharmaceuticals.

  • The doctor, who is wearing a stethoscope, takes the patient's right hand in his left hand and holds his own right hand next to it.
  • There is one syringe and two small bottles of colorless medicine.
  • There are three white pills on the desk, and next to them are three PTP sheets in green, gold and orange.
  • This is an image of a functional lipid derivative. The lipid structure, shown in yellow, is gathered in the center, and the water-soluble parts, shown in red, blue and green, are lined up around it to form a sphere.
    　　Highly pure functional
    　　lipid derivatives
  • This is an image of activated PEG. It shows how the PEG, represented by the blue ribbon, is bound to the drug part colored red, blue, green and yellow via a reactive substituent.
    　　　　Activated PEG

Focusing on the development of diagnostic pharmaceutical agent
technologies in the wake of the outbreak of infectious disease
　COVID-19 is raging around the world. PCR test kits and antigen test kits have been widely used as diagnostic pharmaceuticals. Going forward, as global warming progresses and new infectious diseases emerge, the demand for diagnostic pharmaceuticals is expected to increase. Therefore, in order to contribute to people's health and hygiene, NOF is promoting the development of technologies that contribute to improving the quality and performance of diagnostic pharmaceuticals.

  • I hold the dropper with my gloved hand and put one drop of the test reagent into the sample inlet of the test kit.
  • There are two packs of single-use contact lens packaging, one case of eye drops, one white and one blue round contact lens case, and one clear empty bottle.
  • A researcher wearing blue rubber gloves puts both hands into a laboratory fume hood and operates glassware.
On a wooden tray, there is one loaf of French bread, three slices of sliced bread, three round breads like bagels, and one croissant.

Contributes to reducing the environｰmental impact of the food industry
　In recent years, both reducing food waste and swapping meat with plant protein alternatives have been attracting a lot of attention. NOF provides functional materials for food that can maintain the softness and improve the texture and volume of breads and sweets, thereby contributing to reduction of food loss by preventing waste due to expiration. We are also working on the development of functional food materials that improve the taste and texture of plant proteins with the aim of promoting the use of plant proteins as an alternative to meat, which has a high environmental impact.

Four different-sized white tablets and two different-sized white capsules are scattered about.

Contributing to the development of health foods through proprietary materials and technologies (improved access to more nutritious foods)
　The health food market continues to see further growth as people become more health conscious. On the other hand, many health food materials have distinctive flavors and physical properties, such as bitterness and stickiness, and this is an issue that needs to be resolved in product development by health food manufacturers. In addition to providing unique materials for health food, NOF is developing oil and fat coating technology to improve the flavor and physical properties of materials, thereby contributing to the further spread of health foods.

Customer Safety and Health

Improving access to pharmaceuticals
　DDS is a technology that enhances the effects of drugs by adjusting their physiological activity, targeting lesions, yielding chemical stability, adjusting metabolic activity, and other means, so that they act at the required place in the body in the required amount for the required time. This technology makes it possible to reduce the side effects of drugs and the frequency of daily injections. NOF is advancing this research and contributing to improving the quality of life (QOL) and access to pharmaceuticals for patients who need them.
　In addition, PCR test kits and antigen test kits were widely used as diagnostic pharmaceuticals for COVID-19, which spread aggressively worldwide. As global warming progresses and new infectious diseases emerge, the demand for diagnostic pharmaceuticals is expected to increase. Therefore, NOF is promoting the development of technologies that contribute to improving the quality and performance of diagnostic pharmaceuticals. We make it possible to rapidly provide these to a wide range of people, thereby contributing to improved access and people’s health and hygiene.


Improved access to more nutritious foods
　In April 2023, our Functional Foods Division was given a new Japanese name with the aim of growing through contributions to people and society based on the functions of foods. We are working on shifting to new business areas to contribute to the realization of a sustainable society and helping people be healthy through the functions of food products. Firstly, regarding the realization of a sustainable society, we believe that it is essential to resolve issues such as global population growth and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. We are focusing on developing products that can contribute to the reduction of food loss and the spread of meat-substitute proteins by extending the shelf life of breads and pastries by prolonging their texture, and improving the juiciness of processed foods made with plant-based proteins. With regard to helping people be healthy, accelerating the development of effective health foods, such as foods with functional claims, will play an important role. On the other hand, some materials for health food have significant problems with their flavor and physical properties that make their use in health food products difficult. We are conducting research to improve the flavor and physical properties of ingredients through our division’s oil and fat coating technology, which will contribute to the further spread of health foods.


Participation in industry initiatives on processed food safety
　NOF has joined the Japan Margarine Shortening & Lard Industries Association, whose basic philosophy is food safety and security and stable supply, and whose activities are aimed at enriching the daily lives of consumers through the use of edible oils. In particular, the Technology Committee conducts surveys and research on the safety of edible oils, and actively provides information on edible oils to consumers.

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