Founded in 1964, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Otsuka) is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy, ‘Otsuka-people creating new products for
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better health worldwide.’ Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures and markets innovative and original products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products for the
treatment of diseases and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday
Head Office
In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leading firm in the challenging area of mental health
and also is developing treatments for currently-untreated medical conditions. These
Number of Employees
commitments illustrate more powerfully than words how Otsuka is a “big venture”
company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does.
President
Otsuka is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd., the holding
company for the Otsuka Group. The Otsuka Group has business operations in 25
countries and regions around the world, with consolidated net sales of USD 13 billion
Pharmaceutical Products RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Meptin® (procaterol hydrochloride), Samsca® (tolvaptan), Busulfex®
Otsuka leverages its network of research institutes and facilities in and outside of
Japan to conduct research and development on pharmaceutical and consumer
Nutraceutical Products
The company enters untraveled paths and unopened scientific doors to develop
pharmaceutical products that could only be imagined by Otsuka. As a result, in many
cases we have achieved, or continue to strive for, first-in-class drugs in the areas of
the central nervous system (CNS), oncology, cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory
systems, infectious disease, ophthalmology and dermatology. The company is also
making the most of its internal and external networks to pursue novel approaches to
drug discovery, diagnostics and prevention.
UNIQUE R&D PROGRAM Examples of Otsuka’s unique drug development
Most antipsychotics to date have been based on suppression of dopamine. Otsuka took a new idea and, through trial and error, created ABILIFY, a
be “uniquely Otsuka” is that the company obtains insights into drug
partial agonist that instead controls the amount of dopamine produced. On
another occasion, a professor at a local university spoke of the need for a
diuretic that increases the excretion of free water only. This led to the creation of Samsca, which was released in Europe and the U.S. in 2009.
with doctors around the world to get a first-hand feel for whether their
Both are examples of research efforts to fulfill unmet medical needs.
Special features of Otsuka’s R&D The success of Mikelan,Meptin, Pletal, Mucosta and ABILIFY have all been based on carbostyril. Rather than taking a standardized approach, Otsuka’s research philosophy is to encourage in every way possible the creativity and perseverance of researchers. COMMITMENT TO TUBERCULOSIS In line with its corporate philosophy, Otsuka’s drug research and development UNMET NEEDS OF
efforts are focused on providing innovative products that improve health
TB PATIENTS
worldwide. There are many kinds of health issues facing us today, but TB remains
an insurmountable disease that affects millions of people around the world.1 The
company’s philosophy is to address true unmet medical needs and Otsuka saw
TB as a unique area of contribution, as no other companies were attempting to
Otsuka has had a TB drug discovery program for over 30 years and has been a
recognized leader in TB research through its commitment to the discovery and
development of new compounds as well as the building of a clinical infrastructure
within developing countries affected by the disease. Today, Otsuka is recognized
as the top private funder of TB drug development in the world.2
drug resistant strains. Today it is estimated that nearly four percent
The Otsuka MDR-TB clinical development program represents a major step
forward for the TB community, where there is an urgent need for short, simple,
easily tolerated regimens that are effective in patients who are resistant to current
TB regimens. Continuing its commitment, Otsuka recently initiated an
international Phase III clinical study, which has begun in Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Peru, Philippines and South Africa. Enrollment recently began
for a clinical program exploring the use of delamanid in pediatric MDR-TB and will
evaluate the bioequivalence of a dispersible formulation for use with younger children and infants.
Furthering its TB commitment, in May 2011 Otsuka established Otsuka SA in Geneva, Switzerland, to serve as the central operations unit for developing and implementing public health policies and case management activities in connection with the company’s global TB program.3
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY Otsuka’s social responsibility initiatives focus on the priorities of health, the environment and local communities. The company disseminates useful health-related information by holding lectures and seminars to increase interest and understanding among citizens around disease prevention and recovery. Otsuka also strives to promote healthy lifestyles, regularly holding events in cooperation with local communities. Otsuka endeavors to conduct all business activities with respect for the natural environment and local communities. The company works hard to develop helpful new technologies; is engaged in continuous improvement activities; and is committed to helping build low-carbon, recycling-oriented societies. This spirit also can be found in its product development. Otsuka developed an eco-friendly bottle that is 30 percent lighter than previous styles, and applied this technology to its best-selling sports drink, Pocari Sweat. Otsuka has a long history of assisting local communities in crisis. Efforts include the establishment of the Otsuka Welfare Clinic, which provides free medical support to refugees in Peshawar, Pakistan. In response to natural disasters, such as the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, Otsuka promptly supplied needed health and nutrition products to people in affected areas. REFERENCES
WHO – Tuberculosis. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs104/en/index.html (Accessed 22 February 2013)
Treatment Action Group (TAG) and Stop TB Partnership. 2012 Report on Tuberculosis Research Funding Trends, 2005-2011
Otsuka SA Press Release. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Establishes Subsidiary, Otsuka SA, to Facilitate Public Advocacy for the Company’s Global Tuberculosis Program. May 18, 2011
Q: WHAT IS INFLUENZA (FLU) AND HOW IS IT CAUSED? Influenza is a highly contagious disease caused by a virus. Influenza A and B are the major types of influenza viruses that cause human disease and can affect people of all ages. When someone who has influenza sneezes, coughs, or even talks, the influenza virus is expelled into the air and may be inhaled by anyone close by. The Influenza viruses ch