Universe Pharmaceuticals INC Announces Strategic Alliance with Kitanihon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to Address the Market Demand for Kampo Medicine and High-end Traditional Chinese Medicine


Ji’an, Jiangxi, China, Dec. 13, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Universe Pharmaceuticals INC (the “Company”) (Nasdaq: UPC), a pharmaceutical producer and distributor in China, today announced that on December 1, 2021 the Company entered into a strategic cooperation agreement and associated ancillary agreements (the “Agreements”) with Kitanihon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (“KP”), a Japanese company engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and distribution of Kampo (a traditional Japanese herbal medicine) pharmaceutical and medical products. The purpose of the Agreements is to address market demand for Kampo medicine and high-end traditional Chinese medicine (“TCM”).

Pursuant to the Agreements, the Company and KP agree to exchange equity interests in each other's company and, as previously disclosed, jointly build a new manufacturing facility (the “Facility”) in Ji’an, Jiangxi Province, in accordance with the market access requirements from the Japan’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA). The Company will appoint a director to KP’s board of directors to directly participate in the management of KP. The Chief Executive Officer of KP, Nishimura Ichiri, will be named as Foreign Expert of the Company.

The Facility, once built, will principally serve as a production facility for Kampo medicine and high-end TCM products. Products manufactured in the Facility will be sold in Japan, Southeast Asia, and countries in China’s Belt and Road initiative.

Mr. Gang Lai, Chairman and CEO of Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, commented, “We are pleased to have KP as our strategic partner to address the demands for Kampo medicine and high-end TCM products, which we believe is significant for the Company's long-term development. In addition, we are very excited to have Mr. Ichiri, a well-known expert in Kampo medicine in Japan, join the Company as Foreign Expert. With the cooperation of KP and the addition of Mr. Ichiri, the Company will establish its presence in the Kampo medicine market and further strengthen its position and capability in the traditional Chinese medicine market. We expect to generate a revenue of RMB2 billion with a profit of RMB260 million annually within five years after the launch of the Facility. Looking forward, we will strive to become a benchmark company in the pharmaceutical industry by implementing our innovative and efficient business model of Sino-Japanese cooperation.”

About Universe Pharmaceuticals INC

Universe Pharmaceuticals INC, headquartered in Ji’an, Jiangxi, China, is a pharmaceutical producer and distributor in China. The Company specializes in the manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution of traditional Chinese medicine derivatives products targeting the elderly with the goal of addressing their physical conditions in the aging process and to promote their general well-being. The Company also distributes and sells biomedical drugs, medical instruments, Traditional Chinese Medicine Pieces, and dietary supplements manufactured by third-party pharmaceutical companies. Currently, the Company’s products are sold in 30 provinces of China. For more information, visit the company’s website at http://www.universe-pharmacy.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as "may," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "aim," "estimate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "potential," "continue," "is/are likely to" or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.

For more information, please contact:

Ascent Investors Relations LLC
Tina Xiao
President
Phone: 917-609-0333
Email: tina.xiao@ascent-ir.com