Blackstone Inc., a prominent American investment firm, has announced its agreement to acquire a controlling 60% stake in the Japanese pharmaceutical company CMIC Co. The remaining 40% will continue to be held by the founders of CMIC Holdings Co.

This acquisition is part of a broader trend where Blackstone and other investment firms, such as Bain Capital, are increasingly investing in Japan's life sciences sector. This surge in activity is attributed to recent legislative changes that have streamlined the clinical trial process, reducing the time to market for new drugs, which is particularly relevant given Japan's aging population.

The deal with CMIC marks Blackstone's second significant investment in Japan's pharmaceutical industry in February, following Bain Capital's $3.3 billion acquisition of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corp. Blackstone has expressed intentions to pursue additional opportunities within Japan's pharmaceutical sector.

Blackstone specializes in alternative asset management across various domains, including private equity, real estate, and hedge fund solutions, primarily catering to institutional and individual investors. The firm is headquartered in New York.

CMIC, based in Tokyo, is known for its development and manufacturing of biomarkers, orphan drugs, and clinical trial systems. It was established as one of Japan's first contract research organizations, focusing on conducting clinical trials.

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