Business Overview
Developing original products for maintaining and improving health
Building upon our solid foundation of scientific R&D, we have developed a range of unique consumer products for the maintenance and promotion of people's health. Over the past few decades we have created several new markets by carrying out continuous activities to inform and educate consumers on the value of products born under our own ideas, the likes of which they may not have seen before.
POCARI SWEAT was first developed as a health drink, based on the concept of a "drinkable IV". It serves to smoothly replace water and electrolytes (ions) lost through sweat. POCARI SWEAT ION WATER, is a more refreshing, clean-tasting beverage to optimally maintain ion balance and hydration in both active exercise and daily consumption scenarios. This thirst quenching beverage supports optimum day-to-day condition.
In 2016, an "edible hydration" supplement, POCARI SWEAT Jelly, was launched. This offers a convenient way to stay hydrated, simultaneously satisfying hunger while supplying water and electrolytes. Also in 2018, POCARI SWEAT ICE SLURRY, a beverage that "cools from the core", was developed and launched to support activities in hot environments as a new countermeasure to cope with heat disorders.
ORONAMIN C DRINK, a unique carbonated nutritional drink for everyday consumption, marked its 50th anniversary in 2015. This refreshing vitamin drink continues to energize people of all ages in nine countries and regions around the world.
The Calorie Mate line of foods, carefully developed under the concept of nutritionally balanced foods, includes block, jelly and liquid products. As eating styles diversify, the Calorie Mate range offers effortless consumption of five major nutrients by anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical has been exploring the potential of soybeans for many years. With the goal of creating a product that can be eaten easily anywhere at any time, we developed SOYJOY, a healthy snack bar made without flour, using whole soy beans combined with various ingredients and baked. Initially launched in 2006, the SOYJOY product lineup now includes the SOYJOY Plant-Based series, made with plant-based ingredients.
Products developed through scientific research
Focusing on the advantages of equol, a compound produced when soy isoflavones are metabolized by intestinal bacteria, Otsuka Pharmaceutical released EQUELLE in April 2014. In 2018, we released EQUELLE Gelée, a jelly-type beverage that contains collagen, calcium and other beneficial ingredients in addition to soy metabolite equol. EQUELLE Brand helps support women's health and beauty.
Knowing that both athletes who push their bodies to the limit, and people who experience daily stress due to work or study are putting their health at risk, we created BODYMAINTÉ, a "protective beverage*1" which contains plant-derived lactic acid bacterium B240*2, which has shown to work to protect the body from day-to-day health risks. BODYMAINTÉ Jelly has earned a following since its 2017 launch -mainly among athletes concerned about their physical condition at sporting events. In 2018, BODYMAINTÉ Drink was launched.
In accordance with Japanese government guidelines for Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) and the new Foods with Function Claims system introduced in 2015, easy-to-understand labeling contributes to consumer safety and facilitates appropriate product selection.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical's selection of Foods for Specified Health Uses includes the Fibe-Mini dietary fiber beverage to promote intestinal function and Kenja-no Shokutaku Double Support, which slows the body's post-meal absorption of sugar and lipids.
Otsuka markets ten products labeled as Foods with Function Claims. This includes five products from the Nature Made series of vitamins and supplements: Ginkgo Biloba for improvement of memory acuity, Lutein to support contrast sensitivity (the eye's ability to distinguish light and dark), Astaxanthin to support the eye's ability to focus, and Super Fish Oil and Fish Oil Pearl for the inhibition of triglyceride levels in the blood.
Omugi Gohan and Omugi Gohan Japanese-Style provide an easy way to benefit from barley β-glucan.
Both Amino Value 4000 and Amino Value Powder 8000 contain BCAA as a functional ingredient, helping relieve fatigue following exercise. Kenja-no-kaimin Sleep Rhythm Support, with ingredients derived from asparagus, helps settle the body's sleep/wake rhythm, improves the quality of sleep and supports refreshed, revitalized awakening.
Based on the unique concept of Cosmedics*3 targeting healthy skin, Otsuka Pharmaceutical launched InnerSignal in 2005, which contains active ingredient Energy Signal AMP. The company added to the lineup in 2008 by introducing UL·OS, the head-to-toe skincare range for men, before adding a third product, sakuraé, a skin care product containing two active whitening ingredients, in 2022.
- *1With essential conditioning ingredients, BODYMAINTÉ products support the maintaince of your optimal body condition.
- *2Lactic acid bacteria isolated by Tokyo University of Agriculture. Effectiveness confirmed by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and Kumamoto Prefectural University.
- *3Cosmedics: cosmetics + medicine
(As of November 2022)