Daiichi Fine Chemical Co., Ltd. has announced that it will appoint Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc. as the exclusive distributor of its vitamins and other fine chemical products in North America effective January 1, 2009. The products include Daiichi’s Calcium Panthothenate, Pantethine, Panthenol and other fine chemical products. Toyota Tsusho America, Inc., the current distributor, will continue to handle all purchase orders until December 31, 2008.

Kyowa Hakko Kogyo Co., Ltd., Japan (KYOWA) acquired all shares of DFK from Daiichi- Sankyo Co., Ltd. KYOWA has been selling amino acids and related products to North American customers through Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc. headquartered in New York City. As KYOWA and DFK have many customers in the dietary supplement, cosmetic and feed ingredient market in common, a decision was made to consolidate the sales and marketing of both companies’ products in North America at Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc.

About Kyowa Hakko U.S.A., Inc.
Kyowa Hakko offers manufacturers and formulators one of the industry's most extensive lines of over 50 amino acids and related compounds, including D-Amino acids and branched-chain amino acids, as well as nucleic acids, bio-products and fine chemicals. Kyowa Hakko also offers an array of branded ingredients including Cognizin® Citicoline, Kyowa CoQ10®, Lumistor® L-Hydroxyproline, Hyaluronic Acid and Setria® Glutathione. Visit www.kyowa-usa.com for more information.