Tokyo, Japan - King Car Otsuka Co., Ltd., Taiwan-based affiliate of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan; President: Tatsuo Higuchi), has announced the April 2007 Taiwan launch of SOYJOY, a nutritious bar-shaped baked product made from whole soybeans.

Containing no wheat flour, SOYJOY is a new type of nutrition product produced by baking dough made of powdered whole soybeans^*, with generous amounts of real fruit. In Japan, SOYJOY has earned a popular following as a convenient, portable nutrition product that offers the healthy benefits of soy and the delicious flavor of fruit, providing a convenient way for busy people from every walk of life to enjoy flavor and nutrition any time, any place.

• * Hulled soybeans

Responsible for distribution of SOYJOY in Taiwan, King Car Otsuka is a food and beverage manufacturer and marketing company formed in 1996 as a joint venture between Otsuka Pharmaceutical and leading Taiwan beverage manufacturer King Car Food Industrial Co.

The Taiwan product will be marketed under the 'SOYJOY' name, with a package design that closely resembles the Japanese product. The Taiwan version of SOYJOY will be introduced in Raisin & Almond, Cacao Orange, Apricot and Hawthorn Berry flavors. SOYJOY will be distributed throughout Taiwan, with sales in drugstores, convenience stores and other retail channels.

A large number of processed soy products are available in Taiwan, where soymilk is a traditional breakfast beverage. With the introduction of conveniently portable SOYJOY nutrition bars, King Car Otsuka hopes to promote a new way to enjoy soy-based products.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical is working to develop a new business model for its Nutraceuticals segment simultaneously targeting Japan, the US, and China, three countries with totally different cultural and historical backgrounds. In response to the global desire for health and wellness, the project aims for speedy development of powerful new brands based on unique concepts and a global perspective. The launch of SOYJOY in Taiwan is positioned as a key initiative for the Japan-US-China Project.

Based on its corporate philosophy of "Otsuka - People creating new products for better health worldwide", Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is dedicated to contributing to the health and well being of people around the world.