Top 10 Japanese Pharmaceutical Companies in 2022

Top 10 Japanese Pharmaceutical Companies in 2023

S.N	Company	CEO	Number of Employees	Market Capital
1.	Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma	Masayo Tada	7,009 (consolidated)	656.5 Billion
2.	Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.	Christophe Weber	49,578	7.05 Billion
3.	Daiichi Sankyo	Joji Nakayama	32,229 (2013)	6.53 Billion
4.	Chugai Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd.	Tatsuro Kosaka	7,432 (2018)	5.34 Billion
5.	Astellas Pharma Inc.	Yoshihiko Hatanaka	17,217 (2016)	3.48 Billion
6.	Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.	Kazumichi Kobayashi	5,634 (2017)	2.65 Billion
7.	Eisai	Haruo Naito	10,419 (2014)	2.34 Billion
8.	Shionogi Co.Ltd.	Isao Teshirogi	6,082	2.04 Billion
9.	Kyowa Hakko Kirin	Nobuo Hanai	7,532 (2017)	1.25 Billion
10.	Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation	Masayuki Mitsuka	11,409	1.12 Billion

Top 10 Japanese Pharmaceutical Companies in 2023

1. Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma

CEO: Masayo Tada

Founded In: October 1, 2005

Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka, Japan

Market Capital: 656.5 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 7,009 (consolidated)

Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical company with its headquarters in Chuo-ku, Osaka was originally established in 1885. The company mainly manufactures and markets pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use. The Company also produces and sells livestock feeds, food additives, and chemical products, as well as conducts clinical pathology tests for animals.

The Company operates in four segments. The Japan segment manufactures and sells medical drugs. The North America segment manufactures, develops, purchases and sells ethical drugs. The China segment manufactures and sells ethical drugs through its consolidated subsidiary. The Other Overseas division is involved in the development of its products in Europe.

The Company is also engaged in the manufacture, purchase, sale, and supply of food materials and additives, chemical products, veterinary drugs, diagnostic products, and inspection services of clinical pathology for the animals, the manufacture of extracts, as well as the storage, delivery and clinical inspection of drugs.

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2. Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

CEO: Christophe Weber

Founded In: June 12, 1781

Headquarters: Tokyo

Market Capital: 7.05 Billion

Company Status: Public Traded Company

Number of Employee: 49,578

The pharmaceutical company is the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and stands as one of the significant leaders in the medicinal industry. Founded on June 12, 1781, in Osaka, Japan, Takeda Pharmaceuticals was later incorporated on January 29, 1925. and its headquarter is located in Chuo-ku, Osaka. Takeda Pharmaceuticals is chiefly involved in areas like research and development, manufacturing, sales and marketing, and trade of medicinal drugs in Japan and overseas.

The company mainly functions on the core curative fields of oncology (cancer), gastrointestinal (digestive system), neurology (nervous system), and plasma fractionation products through its research and development centers in Japan and the United States.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals missions to endeavor towards “Better Health and a Brighter Future” for people across the world through leading innovation in medicine.

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3. Daiichi Sankyo

CEO: Joji Nakayama

Founded In: September 28, 2005

Headquarters: Chūō, Tokyo, Japan

Market Capital: 6.53 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 32,229 (as of December 2013)

The company is a global pharmaceutical organization and is the second-largest pharmaceutical company in Japan. Founded on September 28, 2005, through the alliance of Daiichi Pharmaceutical and Sankyo, this company manufactures human and veterinary usage pharmaceuticals, medical tools, and equipment. The company also researches and promotes its products through related organizations throughout the world.

The company focuses on therapies in hypertension, thrombotic disorders, stroke risk reduction, dyslipidemia, diabetes, acute coronary syndrome, opioid-induced constipation, IV iron therapy, and metastatic melanoma. With over 100 years of scientific expertise and a presence in more than 20 countries, Daiichi Sankyo draws upon a rich legacy of reform and a robust pipeline of assuring new medicines to help people.

Moreover, Daiichi Sankyo performs research and development by primarily focusing to bring forth novel therapies in oncology, including immuno-oncology, with additional focus on new horizon areas, such as pain management, neurodegenerative diseases, heart and kidney diseases, and other rare diseases.

Daiichi Sankyo also centers on manufacturing and sales of pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products, cosmetics, medical equipment, food products, and drinking water.

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4. Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

CEO: Tatsuro Kosaka

Founded In: March 8, 1943

Headquarters: Chūō, Tokyo, Japan

Market Capital: 5.34 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 7,432 (as of December 31, 2018)

Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a pharmaceutical founded by Juzo Ueno on March 10, 1925, and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Chugai Pharmaceuticals is involved in the research, development, manufacturing, sales, and trade of pharmaceuticals. The company operates through its business divisions, namely, Research, Development, Production, Marketing, Medical Affairs, and Drug Safety.

The Research division focuses its efforts on creating innovative drugs by using its competitive strengths that include proprietary antibody technologies and cutting-edge research resources. The Development division provides a cross-functional lifecycle management system to deliver innovative medicines to patients as quickly as possible.

The Production division provides world-class safety and quality management systems. The Marketing division conducts patient-oriented marketing activities to help solve issues related to healthcare. The Medical Affairs division works to properly deliver the value of medicines based on global compliance standards. The Drug Safety provides a safety management system includes expert safety evaluation as well as time gathering and reporting of safety information.

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5. Astellas Pharma Inc.

CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka

Founded In: April 1, 2005

Headquarters: Chūō, Tokyo, Japan

Market Capital: 3.48 Billion

Company Status: Public Traded Company

Number of Employee: 17,217 (2016)

Astellas Pharma Inc. is a Japanese pharmaceutical company formed on March 20, 1939, and is currently headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Astellas’ global products include Prograf, Vesicare, Protopic, Harnal, and Funguard.

The pharmaceutical company engages in the therapeutic areas of urology, immunology covering transplantation and infectious diseases, oncology, neuroscience, DM complications, and metabolic diseases. Besides, the company has its hands on the research, development, manufacturing, and promotion of its prescription drugs via its subsidiaries in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Astellas is also committed to improving people’s health across the world through its innovative and reliable medicinal products. The company also encourages various causes and has created the Changing Tomorrow Day, an annual, worldwide volunteering event to demonstrate its responsibility.

6. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

CEO: Kazumichi Kobayashi

Founded In: 1964

Headquarters: Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Market Capital: 2.65 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 5,634 (2017)

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., popularly known as OPC, is a Japanese pharmaceutical company established on August 10, 1964, with its headquarter located in Tokyo, Osaka, and Naruto. The company is dedicated to the research and development of unconventional drugs and diagnostics.

Otsuka plans to do so by developing breakthrough products, focusing on the areas of the central nervous system, cardiovascular and renal areas, oncology, infectious diseases, ophthalmology, and dermatology not only in Japan, but also in the United States, Europe, and China via its collaboration with the research centers.

Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been striving through its wholesome approach to the health of people by innovatively creating thoroughly-original pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Otsuka also deals with the production, dispensing, exporting, and importing of pharmaceuticals, clinical testing of the medical devices and equipment, food products, cosmetics, and similar products.

7. Eisai

CEO: Haruo Naito

Founded In: December 6, 1941

Headquarters: Bunkyō, Japan

Market Capital: 2.34 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 10,419 (consolidated, as of March 31, 2014)

Eisai Co., Ltd., a pharmaceutical company based in Japan, is primarily engaged in the research and development, manufacture, sale, and trade of the pharmaceuticals. The company was formed on December 6, 1941, and operates in two different segments.

The first being the pharmaceutical segment is engaged in the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of pharmaceuticals for medical use, generic drugs, generic medicines, among others. It operates in five different areas that include Japan, North America, China, EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa, Oceania), Asia (South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, ASEAN), and Latin America.

The other segment looks after the license revenues and pharmaceutical raw materials. Additionally, the company is also engaged in the provision of brands like the anticancer drugs Lembima and Halaven on the nervous and oncological areas.

Similarly, as one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in the development of dementia treatments, Eisai is also expanding its activities to promote early diagnosis and early treatment of dementia.

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8. Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

CEO: Isao Teshirogi

Founded In: June 5, 1919

Headquarters: Japan

Market Capital: 2.04 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 6,082 (Consolidated)

Shionogi & Company, Limited is a Japanese pharmaceutical company established on March 17, 1878, and is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The company develops prescription and over-the-counter drugs and diagnostics.

Primarily, the company is engaged in the research, development, purchase, manufacture, and sales of pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical-related businesses. The prescription drug business is engaged in the development of eight new drugs including hypercholesterolemia treatment drugs Crestor, antihypertensive drugs Ilbetan Family (Irbetan, Aimix, Iltra) and antidepressant drugs Sinbalta.

Shionogi is also involved in the provision of information to contribute to medical care by maximizing its products. Its over-the-counter (OTC) pharmaceutical business handles products tailored to customers’ lifestyles. Similarly, the in-vitro diagnostics business is engaged in the sale of products, as well as the provision of information on infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases and allergic diseases. Shionogi mainly provides its products and services in Japan, Europe, and North America.

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9. Kyowa Hakko Kirin

CEO: Nobuo Hanai

Founded In: July 1, 1949

Headquarters: Japan

Market Capital: 1.25 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 7,532 (consolidated, as of December 31, 2017)

Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., a Japanese pharmaceutical and biotechnology company was established on July 1, 1949, and is currently headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. The company produces anti-allergic agents, treating hypertension and angina pectoris agents, ulcerative colitis agents, anti-epileptic agents, and more.

Primarily, the company is engaged in the manufacture and sales of pharmaceutical drugs by operating through two business segments; the pharmaceuticals segment conducts research, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceuticals and other products.

On the other side, the bio-chemicals segment is involved in the research, development, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceuticals and industrial raw materials for amino acid and nucleic acid-related substances and healthcare products.

10. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

CEO: Masayuki Mitsuka

Founded In: 2001

Headquarters: Chuo-kuŌsaka, Japan

Market Capital: 1.12 Billion

Company Status: Public traded Company

Number of Employee: 11,409

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation is a Japanese pharmaceuticals company and a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation. Originally, Mitsubishi Pharma, a company formed with the alliance of Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals and Welfide Corporation in 2001, again merged with Tanabe Seiyaku Co. Ltd. on October 1, 2007, to form Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma.

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation is primarily engaged in the research and development, manufacturing, procurement, and sales of ethical pharmaceutical and non-prescription drugs.

The company functions through the pharmaceuticals segment which operates business activities related to ethical drugs and over-the-counter drugs. It also offers various products like Kremezin, BindRen, Lexapro, primarily used for Diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney diseases, hyperphosphatemia, and depression, and including nutritious supplements for the elderly, food additives, pesticide, cosmetics, and medical products for veterinary use. Simply put, it operates through Japan and its market can be seen amplifying across the globe.