TOKYO, July 2 (Reuters) - Private equity firm Blackstone

is to sell Japanese drugmaker Alinamin Pharmaceutical to

North Asian buyout fund MBK Partners for 350 billion yen ($2.17

billion) the Nikkei newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Blackstone acquired Alinamin in 2021 after which Alinamin

set up a unit in Taiwan and increased its overseas sales, the

Nikkei said.

MBK aims to use its experience in consumer goods

acquisitions to boost Alinamin's value, the Nikkei said.

MBK declined to comment. Blackstone and Alinamin did not

immediately respond to requests for comment.

($1 = 161.5500 yen)

(Reporting by Anton Bridge; Editing by Muralikumar

Anantharaman)