History
A chemical compound factory named Otsuka Seiyaku Kogyo-bu (now Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.), was founded in 1921 in the city of Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. The company entered the pharmaceuticals business in 1946 when it began production and sales of I.V. solutions.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (OPC), established in 1964, was initially engaged in marketing I.V. solutions and other products. In 1971, OPC got into new drug development. In 1980, it successfully launched new β-blocker Mikelan and bronchodilator Meptin. Subsequently, OPC introduced a host of innovative new drugs around the world, including the antiplatelet agent Pletaal, the anti-gastritis and anti-gastric ulcer agent Mucosta, and the antipsychotic Abilify. In addition, the company built businesses around the development of nutraceuticals - products that apply its pharmaceutical research know-how to support day-to-day wellness. Pocari Sweat, launched in 1980, was followed by Calorie Mate, SOYJOY, and other original products which have created entirely new market categories.
OPC began overseas activities in 1970 and with the initiation of its pharmaceutical business and its first in-licensing. The establishment of Thai Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., in 1973 marked the entry of the company’s I.V. solutions business in Asia. In 1981, the company began out-licensing its own proprietary drugs, and established a U.S. holding company in 1989 and a European holding company in 1998, promoting the globalization of its pharmaceutical business. In OPC’s Nutraceuticals Products business, Pocari Sweat was launched in Hong Kong and Taiwan in 1982. Offices were subsequently established in Asia and the U.S., with group companies collaborating to expand the business. In recent years, the company has started pursuing new possibilities through capital investments in European partners with proven records in various circles.
- Note: Nutraceuticals = nutrition + pharmaceuticals
Refer to the individual timelines available via the following links for more details about the history of the Otsuka Group’s business and products.
