Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory launches "HINEX^Ⓡ E-Gel" and "HINEX^Ⓡ E-gel LC" as new products with changed names and compositions -Developing concentrated liquid diet products globally under the "HINEX" brand-

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc. (Head Office: Naruto, Tokushima, Japan; President and Representative Director: Shinichi Ogasawara; "OPF") will renew its concentrated liquid diet products "Hine E-Gel_®" and "Hine E-Gel_® LC," and release new products with changed names (product names) and some compositions, "HINEX_® E-Gel" and "HINEX_® E-gel LC."*¹

Since the 1970s, the Otsuka Group has worked to develop products focusing on nutritional foods that can be taken orally by patients, making use of its ability to develop clinical nutritional products, mainly IV products. The "HINEX" brand of concentrated liquid diet foods launched in 1979 was subsequently renamed "Hine" domestically and has continued product development. Since 2016, the brand has been rolled out overseas under the name of "HINEX." As part of our Medical Foods*² strategy, we will unify our trademarks in Japan as well, and by globally expanding our concentrated liquid diet foods under the name of "HINEX," we hope to increase global recognition and grow as a brand of nutritional foods that can be used by healthcare professionals and patients around the world.

These new products are concentrated liquid diet foods containing collagen peptide and soybean peptide that can be used for persons whose standard calorie intake is 1200 to 1600 kcal per day. In conjunction with the change in the product names, some compositions have been changed, such as increasing the amount of manganese by referring to the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2020) and adjusting the ratio of copper to zinc to 1:10.

A solid is generally excreted more slowly from the stomach than a liquid and its backflow to the esophagus rarely occurs. Accordingly, in the concentrated liquid food sector, jelly food has been developed, sold, and used. These products are oligomeric formulas which change their property from a liquid to a gel in the stomach.*³ In addition, "HINEX E-gel LC" contains less carbohydrate than "HINEX E-Gel"*⁴ and L-carnitine*5 is formulated. A 250-mL bag (200 kcal) item is also available so that it can be used according to the condition of the patients, such as when they are managed with small quantities.

OPF will continue to promote its business from a global perspective, and aims to be the best partner in the field of clinical nutrition by further expanding its lineup of the medical foods and continuously providing information and products that are useful for proper nutritional management.

Based on the corporate philosophy of "Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide," the Otsuka Group is dedicated to contributing to the health of people around the world.

*¹ As soon as the conventional products are out of stock, the new products will be released sequentially. They are scheduled to be provided from around the beginning of September to the end of October.
*² We refer to the products that we have developed based on medical and nutritional grounds, and which play a role in healthcare, as "medical foods."
*³ Formation of a gel can occur in persons with normal gastric acid secretion because the product changes to a gel under acidic conditions; however, it may vary among individuals.
*⁴ HINEX E-gel LC contains 11.8 g of carbohydrate per 100 kcal. (HINEX E-Gel contains15.4 g of carbohydrate.)
*⁵ L-carnitine: A micronutrient which plays an important role in production of energy by fat.

*⁶ The price is shown as a reference price.
The product contains gelatin and soybean. Do not consume the product if you are allergic to these ingredients.

*⁷ The price is shown as a reference price.
The product contains gelatin and soybean. Do not consume the product if you are allergic to these ingredients.