News

Osaka (Japan), November 17, 2025 - Maruho Co., Ltd. ("Maruho"; Head Office: Osaka, Japan, President and CEO, Atsushi Sugita) announces that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. ("CR Gosun"; Head Office: Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, General Manager, Pan Ge) to out-license the development and marketing rights in China for a penem antibiotic formulation (INN: Faropenem) (hereinafter referred to as "the product") that Maruho manufactures and markets in Japan.

Based on this agreement, Maruho and CR Gosun plan to collaborate on development and regulatory activities to achieve an early launch of the product in China (excluding Hong Kong and Macao).
The product is the world's first orally administered penem antibiotic^*1, developed in Japan. It has a broad antibacterial spectrum against aerobic gram-positive bacteria, aerobic gram-negative bacteria, and anaerobic bacteria^*2. It shows particularly excellent antibacterial activity against pneumococcus^*3. Since 1997, this drug has been marketed in Japan under the product names "Farom Tablets^® 150mg" and "Farom Tablets^® 200mg."

Maruho, with its new overseas business strategy "Asian Dermatology Hub Concept", is promoting business development in Asian countries and regions^*4. By providing this product in collaboration with CR Gosun in China, we aim to bring smiles to the faces of patients suffering from various infectious diseases.

(*1) Penem antibiotics = β-lactam antimicrobial agents with a hybrid penicillin-cephalosporin backbone.

(*2) Based on the Farom Tablets pharmaceutical interview form (revised July 2024)

(*3) From Klaudia Kosowska-Shick et al.: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.52(2):748(2008)

(*4) Since October 2023, as part of its Fifth Medium-Term Plan, Maruho has been focusing on "Taking a new step in global expansion" as one of its priority themes.

Note
The information contained in this news release in regard to pharmaceutical and developmental products is not intended for the purpose of promotion, advertising or medical advice.

About Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (CR Gosun)The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China, and was established in 1991. It is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of infectious diseases (antibiotics) and perioperative care. It is a subsidiary of China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. For more details about CR Gosun, please visit https://www.gosunchina.com/

About MaruhoMaruho Co., Ltd. has its head office in Osaka and leads Japan in research and development, manufacturing and commercialization of dermatological products. Founded in 1915, Maruho has 1,620 employees (as of the end of September 2024), and net sales were approximately 86.99 billion yen in its fiscal year ended September 30, 2024. With the mission "More smiles, brighter life for you.", Maruho aims to help realize a society where everyone can live with a smile. For more information, please visit https://www.maruho.co.jp/english/