Japanese pharma companies merge

The recent announcement of a merger between Taisho Pharmaceuticals and Tanabe Seiyaku should create a powerful new force in OTC medicine and functional foods in Japan. Taisho Pharma has a turnover of just under $ 2 billion 41% of which comes from the sale of nutrients and tonic drinks. Tanabe on the other hands has a turnover of little more than $85 Million almost exclusively in the field of prescription drugs.

Taisho maintain that the merger will enable them to concentrate on their thriving nutrition business, particularly their highly successful tonic drink LIPOVITAN. They plan to shift their prescription medicine business to Tanabe.

Taisho presently has only a very small ethical drug portfolio representing less than 25% of their turnover. It is, however, the number one OTC producer in Japan with leading brands such as the COLAC laxative product and painkiller NARON ACE. For further information see http://www.taisho.co.jp.