About Otsuka

Timeline of Otsuka's History
1974~1983

  • CorpCorporate
  • PhPharmaceutical business
  • NCNutraceutical business

1974

Corp
Headquarters built in Tokyo

At the completion of the new office building, then president Masahito Otsuka delivered this message to employees: "Our mission is to ensure that the Otsuka Group prospers for decades to come and will continue to help enable better lives, not just for employees and their families, but also for the broader society. This new building has not been constructed only in Kanda; it has been built in the hearts of many people. Please do not forget this."

Ph
PT Otsuka Indonesia established
Taiwan Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. established
First office in Europe opened in Italy

1976

Corp
Akihiko Otsuka appointed president
Ph
Otsuka Assay Laboratories established

1977

Corp
Osaka Headquarters building inaugurated

1979

Ph
HINEX-R launched

HINEX-R, the original inspiration for balanced nutritional products, is a concentrated liquid nutrition product used in medical settings

1980

Ph
Mikelan and Meptin launched

"Michelin" is a β blocking cardiac agent and "meptin" is a bronchodilator

NC
POCARI SWEAT launched

1981

Ph
First overseas expansion for Mikelan and Meptin
China Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. established

Otsuka was the first Japanese Pharmaceutical company to enter China, through a joint venture, after economic reforms began in 1978.

1982

Corp
Otsuka Pharmaceutical declared two main business areas

Then president Akihiko Otsuka declared the establishment of Otsuka's Pharmaceutical business to help the ill recover good health, and the nutraceutical business to sustain the wellbeing of the healthy.

Ph
JE-IL Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (now Korea Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.) established in South Korea
Frankfurt Research Institute opened in Germany

Frankfurt Research Institute was established as an R&D base in Europe

NC
POCARI SWEAT launched in Hong Kong and Taiwan

1983

Ph
Biwako Research Institute (now Fujii Memorial Research Institute) established
Hi-Z Tower opened in Tokushima

Expansion of pharmaceutical R&D division

NC
Calorie Mate launched