Evonik, Higuchi Announce New Joint Laboratory
Published: 11 May 2026
Author: Towards Healthcare
Evonik and Higuchi Inc., a leading Japanese trading company in the pharmaceutical sector, have established the “Open Pharma Lab” to support the Japanese pharmaceutical industry with integrated system solutions built around EUDRAGIT polymers, a trusted technology in oral drug delivery.
The new lab is part of Evonik's efforts to strengthen its regional innovation network across Asia, offering collaborative formulation support, customer-specific technical services, and access to Evonik's global drug delivery expertise. This initiative is expected to accelerate innovation and contribute to the continued growth of Japan's pharmaceutical market.
According to Towards Healthcare, the biopharmaceutical excipients market is projected to experience significant growth, with estimates suggesting the market size will increase from USD 5.23 billion in 2026 to approximately USD 10.37 billion by 2035, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 2026 to 2035. Growth is driven by the demand for biologics such as monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, recombinant proteins, and gene therapies, which are increasing, necessitating advanced stabilisers, buffers, and surfactants to address the inherent instability of these complex biologics. Technologies such as injectable, sustained-release, and nanoparticle-based systems are supporting market growth.
About Evonik and Higuchi
Evonik and Higuchi share a partnership that spans many decades, beginning with Higuchi’s early introduction of German methacrylate technologies to Japan. Their collaboration expanded further in the 1960s with the introduction of film coating excipients and today continues through joint technical initiatives such as the long-running EUDRAGIT Seminar series.
It aims to deepen their long-standing partnership and support the Japanese pharmaceutical industry with integrated system solutions built around EUDRAGIT, one of the most trusted technologies in oral drug delivery.
A recent report by Towards Healthcare highlights that the biopharmaceutical excipients market is witnessing growth due to the increasing demand for biologics and the need for specialised excipients that enhance drug stability and bioavailability.