Ajinomoto Aminoscience LLC and Pharmachem Laboratories, Inc. form partnership to bring value-added amino acids to the nutritional market

RALEIGH, NC. (BusinessWire)—January 11, 2007— Ajinomoto Aminoscience LLC ("Ajinomoto"), the world wide manufacturing leader of amino acids (www.ajiaminoscience.com), today announced a partnership with Pharmachem Laboratories Inc. (“PharmaChem”), a leading manufacturer and supplier of value-added nutritional ingredients (www.pharmachemlabs.com), to produce custom manufactured amino acids. This partnership will enable Ajinomoto to offer innovative amino acid solutions to meet customer needs. Pharmachem will also represent and distribute Ajinomoto products to selected customers within the nutritional industry.

Amino acids have long been recognized as key ingredients for health applications within the nutritional supplement market. Ajinomoto currently sells amino acids, backed by research and science, to the market. The partnership between Ajinomoto and Pharmachem will further enhance the potential applications for amino acids via Pharmachem's multitude of processing capabilities and distribution channels. Customers requiring customized particle size, granulation, instantizing, milling and chilsonation of amino acids will now have a single, high quality source. Furthermore, Ajinomoto will finally be able to offer a soluble branched-chain amino acid solution, a product long sought after in the industry.

Ajinomoto is the only US amino acid facility that manufactures, packages, and inventories cGMP and Drug Master File (DMF) pharmaceutical grade amino acids, for the IV, pharmaceutical, food, and supplement industries. "Quality is key," said Jack Heaton, President of Ajinomoto Aminoscience LLC. "We've been looking for a partner with not only unique and reliable processing abilities to diversify our services, but also a strong reputation in the industry. Ajinomoto stands behind its strategy to only offer high quality, pure amino acids."

"We're excited that Ajinomoto recognizes our various technologies, our dedication to customer service, and our professional sales network,” says Dick Beitel, Vice President Sales of Pharmachem Laboratories Inc. "We look forward in expanding the amino acid market with our value added expertise."

ABOUT AJINOMOTO AMINOSCIENCE LLC
Ajinomoto AminoScience LLC is a part of Ajinomoto USA, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc. The Raleigh, NC plant has been in operation since 1982 and continues to be the only pharmaceutical L-amino acid manufacturer in the United States. In addition, the facility offers patented amino acid production technology, full capacity operations 7/24/365, secured supply lines and warehouse facilities, blending and pulverization services, complete analytical and technical support, non-animal manufacturing, operation under current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), and custom labeling and packaging. Being a subsidiary of Ajinomoto Co., Inc, allows for global sourcing and pricing. Our parent company continues to lead the industry in production technology, global supply and nutrition research for amino acids.

ABOUT PHARMACHEM LABORATORIES, INC.
Pharmachem Laboratories Inc has several operations in New Jersey with locations in Kearny, South Hackensack and Totowa, along with American Ingredients, Anaheim, California; Avoca, Merry, North Carolina; and MPT, Paterson, New Jersey, who are network subsidiaries of Pharmachem. Pharmachem is a global leader in application-specific processing of healthy ingredients including custom extractions, fermentation, wet and dry granulations, agglomeration, chilsonation, spray drying, milling, blending, nutrient fortification, and powder drink packaging.

Pharmachem is well known in the industry for its Drum-to-Hopper, Just-in-Batch, and "Value-Added" ingredient systems. For more information, call 1-800-526-0609 or visit www.pharmachemlabs.com.