Japanese firm that treats rare diseases opens first Canadian office in Mississauga

A major Japanese pharmaceutical company that offers therapies for rare diseases and operates around the globe has opened an office in Mississauga.

Kyowa Kirin recently marked the grand opening of what company officials say is the firm’s “first-ever office in Canada,” located in the city’s northeast end.

City of Mississauga officials described the opening as a “key milestone” for both the city and the Japan-based company, which specializes in biotechnology and antibody drugs.

“As a global leader in specialty pharmaceuticals, (Kyowa Kirin) is dedicated to delivering therapies for rare diseases and serious health conditions. Our life sciences sector continues to grow,” officials with Invest Mississauga, the city’s business arm, said in a post to social media.

Mississauga Deputy Mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Matt Mahoney and Ward 5 Coun. Natalie Hart joined Kyowa Kirin officials last Tuesday for the grand opening.

Doug Grant, general manager of Kyowa Kirin Canada Inc., was also on hand at the Jan. 14 event.

“Our dedication to the communities we serve informs everything we do here at Kyowa Kirin. We are committed to making a profound impact on the lives of patients and their families,” he said in an online description of the pharmaceutical firm.

Exciting news!🚀@KyowaKirin_US has officially opened its first Canadian office in Mississauga, marking a key milestone. The global pharmaceutical leader is committed to offering therapies for rare diseases.
Learn more: https://t.co/MRQuy8Myvq
#Mississauga #Ontario #Canada pic.twitter.com/8MJSVdJ7tG

— Invest Mississauga (@MississaugaEDO) January 14, 2025

The company uses “cutting-edge science to address the needs of patients across multiple therapeutic areas,” Kyowa Kirin says on its Canadian website. “Our Canadian team shares our values of commitment to life, teamwork, innovation and integrity to answer the unmet medical needs of patients, their families and medical professionals.”

The company’s North American headquarters is in Princeton, New Jersey.

Invest Mississauga officials note the city is located “in the centre of Canada’s thriving life sciences ecosystem and is home to world-class corporations operating in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and many other subsectors.”

Mississauga is home to Canada’s second-largest life sciences sector by total employment, the city notes, housing more than 500 businesses and upwards of 27,000 skilled professionals.