Asahi Kaisei Adr Stock Price, News & Analysis

Asahi Kasei (OTC:AHKSY) has announced it will supply its Aqualyzer™-C3 1 MW-class alkaline-water electrolyzer to the Central Finland Mobility Foundation (Cefmof) for hydrogen production. The installation in Jyväskylä is scheduled to begin in late 2025, with full operations expected in the first half of 2026.

The system will be capable of producing enough hydrogen per hour to refuel approximately three fuel cell vehicles. The containerized modular design allows for scalable expansion to meet future demand increases. This project marks Asahi Kasei's entry into full commercialization of its hydrogen-related business, building on its experience since launching chlor-alkali electrolysis operations in 1975.

Asahi Kasei (OTC:AHKSY) has announced plans to build its fourth spinning plant for Planova™ virus removal filters in Nobeoka City, Japan. The new facility, supported by a METI grant, will begin construction in July 2026 and start operations in January 2030.

The expansion aligns with the company's "Trailblaze Together" management plan and aims to meet growing global demand in the biopharmaceutical market, which is projected to exceed $500 billion by 2032 with an 8.2% CAGR. The plant will produce Planova™ filters S20N, 15N, 20N, 35N, and 75N, strengthening Asahi Kasei's position in the high-value bioprocessing market and enhancing global supply chain resilience.

Asahi Kasei (OTC:AHKSY) has announced that its Microza & Water Processing Division received a prestigious Gold rating in EcoVadis' sustainability assessment, placing it among the top 5% of assessed entities. The division's Microza® hollow-fiber membrane technology, used in water treatment and industrial processes, was particularly recognized for its environmental performance.

The assessment evaluated four key categories: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement, focusing on the Microza® Fuji Plant's manufacturing operations and supply chain activities. The EcoVadis rating system is globally recognized, having assessed over 150,000 companies across 185 countries and 250 industries.

Asahi Kasei Pharma (OTC:AHKSY) has initiated a Phase III clinical trial for ART-123 (Recomodulin™) in Japan, targeting the prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). The drug, already approved in Japan since 2008, showed promising results in Phase I and II studies for managing CIPN symptoms without interfering with chemotherapy treatments.

The Phase III study will evaluate ART-123's efficacy and safety in colorectal cancer patients receiving oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. The trial addresses a significant unmet medical need, as there are currently no established effective treatments for CIPN prevention or treatment. The development aligns with Asahi Kasei's strategic focus on healthcare sector growth, with pharmaceuticals designated as a 'First Priority' area.

Asahi Kasei (AHKSY) has been awarded the 2025 Imperial Invention Prize for developing a groundbreaking nickel-coated absorption layer technology that significantly improves chlor-alkali electrolysis processes. The invention addresses a critical issue in electrode deterioration during process interruptions by eliminating the need for mechanical solutions to suppress reverse current. The technology has been successfully commercialized and implemented in over 160 plants across 30+ countries. This innovation is particularly significant as it combines both porosity and strength in the absorption layer, previously a challenging trade-off. The company's "DENKAI AS ONE" model, launched in Houston in 2024, offers comprehensive electrolyzer solutions. Asahi Kasei is now exploring the technology's potential application in green hydrogen production through alkaline water electrolysis.

Asahi Kasei has introduced the TA Series of Sunfort™ dry film photoresist, a strategic product for advanced semiconductor packaging used in AI servers. The new series enables ultra-high resolution with conventional stepper exposure and laser direct imaging (LDI) systems, allowing patterning with a resist width of 1.0 µm using LDI exposure in 4 µm pitch design. This innovation is part of Asahi Kasei's Electronics business, which expects a 25% increase in operating profit between fiscal 2024-2027. The TA Series overcomes traditional dry film limitations, offering advantages for panel-level processing while maintaining high resolution previously only achieved with liquid resist. The product specifically targets growing demand in AI, automotive, and IoT markets, with enhanced global support focusing on Asia and North America.

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AHKSY) and Dirac have announced a strategic partnership to integrate Dirac's AudioIQ software solutions into AKM's automotive audio DSPs, including the flagship AK7709. The collaboration aims to enhance in-car audio quality while reducing tuning complexity. AKM, having shipped over 200 million audio DSP units in 20 years, will combine its proprietary technologies like Dynamic Sound Control with Dirac's smart acoustics software.

The partnership addresses growing demand for premium in-cabin experiences as vehicles become increasingly autonomous. Dirac's AudioIQ platform will be embedded into AKM's DSPs to deliver consistent, high-quality sound across all seats while minimizing manual calibration requirements. The companies plan to expand their collaboration for future AKM audio DSP generations.

Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America (AKBA) and PeptiSystems have formed an exclusive global partnership to streamline peptide manufacturing processes. Under this agreement, AKBA will become the exclusive OEM for peptide synthesis columns to PeptiSystems, which specializes in R&D, manufacturing, and supply of peptide and oligonucleotide therapeutic synthesis instruments.

The collaboration integrates AKBA's THESYS® ACS Ergo design columns, launched in 2024, with PeptiSystems' next-generation synthesizers. The THESYS® ACS Ergo design offers reduced batch changeover time while maintaining safety and quality standards. This partnership is part of AKBA's expansion strategy in the TIDES market and follows the recent operational launch of Asahi Kasei Life Sciences division.

Asahi Kasei (AHKSY) has been awarded the prestigious Okochi Memorial Prize for its innovative Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) Ceolus™ UF grade excipient used in pharmaceutical tablets. The product solves critical formulation challenges by providing both high compactibility and flowability, which has been a long-standing industry challenge. Made from natural pulp, Ceolus™ features a unique porous particle shape that enhances tablet productivity and API uniformity, particularly beneficial for low-dose API tablets and small-format tablets. Additionally, Asahi Kasei has addressed nitrosamine concerns by ensuring their MCC Ceolus™ products maintain nitrite levels of 0.1 ppm or less, responding to FDA and EMA guidance on reducing potential carcinogenic impurities in pharmaceuticals.