Company InformationHistory
1929
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Hanpei Sawai and Noyo Sawai (a pharmacist) established Sawai Pharmacy, Sawai Pharmaceutical’s predecessor, in Asahi-ku, Osaka.
1942
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Kaken Shoyaku Co., Ltd. was established in Kudan, Tokyo (capitalization: 190,000 yen).
1948
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Sawai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. was incorporated in Asahi-ku, Osaka to manufacture and market pharmaceuticals (capitalization: 195,000 yen).
1955
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Opened Tokyo Office (now Tokyo Daiichi Branch).
1961
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Automated production line at Head Office Factory (at that time).
1962
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Opened Sapporo Sales Office (now Sapporo Branch), Tohoku Sales Office (now Sendai Branch), Nagoya Sales Office (now Nagoya Branch), and Fukuoka Sales Office (now Fukuoka Branch).
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Obtained manufacturing patent on garlic extracts, launched vitamin B1 preparation.
1965
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Shifted from making OTC drugs to ethical pharmaceuticals.
1968
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Completed second Osaka Factory (at the time) in Asahi-ku, Osaka.
1972
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Built shipment center in Miyakojima-ku, Osaka to complete an integrated distribution system from manufacture to sales.
1974
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Relocated Head Office to new head office building (at that time) in Asahi-ku, Osaka.
1978
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Jiro Sawai appointed President and Hiroyuki Sawai appointed Senior Managing Director.
1979
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Changed the Japanese ideograph for the company name to one more suited to signage and other publicity.
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Opened Hiroshima Sales Office (now Hiroshima Branch).
1981
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Completed Kyushu Factory in Iizuka, Fukuoka.
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Established Yasato Factory in Ishioka, Ibaraki.
1983
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Completed second stage of Kyushu Factory; built production equipment for general preparations and syrups.
1984
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Opened Osaka Laboratory (at that time) in Asahi-ku, Osaka to increase and expand scope of research facilities.
1985
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Medisa Shinyaku Inc. (now a consolidated subsidiary) was established in Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
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Completed third stage of Kyushu Factory; built production equipment for injectables.
1987
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Completed Kyushu Factory (now Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical) in Kaho, Fukuoka (now Iizuka).
1988
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Jiro Sawai appointed Chairman and Hiroyuki Sawai appointed President.
1989
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Completed fourth stage of Kyushu Factory; expanded production equipment for injectables, other.
1990
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Built Research & Development Center (at that time) in Asahi-ku, Osaka to expand R&D division.
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Opened Osaka Branch.
1991
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Spun off shipment center as wholly owned subsidiary, Active Work.
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Purchased shares of Medisa Shinyaku and made it a consolidated subsidiary.
1992
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Completed second stage of Kyushu Factory (now Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical); built production equipment for packaging.
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Completed Sanda Factory in Sanda, Hyogo.
1994
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Opened Pharmaceutical Research Center (at the time) in Asahi-ku, Osaka to expand scope of pharmaceutical research.
1995
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Shares listed on OTC stock market.
1996
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Completed third stage of Kyushu Factory (now Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical); built warehouse, quality control/analysis lab, employee cafeteria, other.
1997
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Began advertising in newspapers to raise awareness of generic drugs.
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Completed fourth and fifth stages of Kyushu Factory (now Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical); expanded production equipment for general preparations and automated warehouse.
2000
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Expanded production equipment for injectables at Kyushu Factory.
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Listed on second section of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2002
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Completed fifth stage of Kyushu Factory; built production equipment for oral extended-release preparations and other drugs, and packaging equipment.
2003
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Listed on first section of Tokyo Stock Exchange.
2004
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Established a new visual identity.
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Started nationwide TV advertising in Japan.
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Took over and merged with consolidated subsidiary Active Work.
2005
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Completed second stage of Sanda Factory; expanded production equipment for general preparations, and built production facilities for specialized preparations.
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Acquired Mobara Factory of Nihon Schering K.K. (now Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd.) in Mobara, Chiba and launched operations as Sawai Pharmaceutical’s Kanto Factory.
2006
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Sumitomo Corporation purchased shares in Medisa Shinyaku.
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Relocated head office to Asahi-ku, Osaka.
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Completed new premises combining Head Office and research laboratories in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka.
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Purchased shares in Kaken Shoyaku and made it a subsidiary.
2007
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Built syringe facility in Kanto Factory.
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Formulated Corporate Philosophy and Code of Conduct.
2008
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Completed sixth stage of Kyushu Factory (now Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical); expanded production equipment for oral solid preparations.
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Relocated head office to Yodogawa-ku, Osaka.
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Hiroyuki Sawai appointed Chairman and Mitsuo Sawai appointed President.
2009
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Completed third stage of Sanda Factory; expanded production equipment for general preparations.
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Opened Saitama Branch (now Tokyo Daini Branch).
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Opened Pharmaceutical Research Center (later changed name to Pharmaceutical Technology Center).
2010
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Purchased shares in Medisa Shinyaku and made it a wholly owned subsidiary.
2011
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Sawai Cetirizine HCL OD Tablets [SAWAI] received Generic Drug of the Year award for 2011 from Generic Drug Association, Japan (GEDA).
2012
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Through a spin off, Sawai absorbed the production business of Medisa Shinyaku and made that company’s Kyushu Factory the Daini Kyushu Factory of Sawai Pharmaceutical.
2013
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Built preparations plant at Kanto Factory.
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Sleeping medicine, Zolpidem Tartrate OD Tablets [SAWAI] received Encouragement Prize in 2013 Generic Drug of the Year Awards from Generic Drug Association, Japan (GEDA).
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Introduced corporate officer system.
2014
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Antiplatelet drug, Cilostazol OD Tablets [SAWAI] received Asahi Kasei Development Award from Academy of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Japan.
2015
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Through a spin off, Sawai absorbed the Kashima Factory (in Kamisu, Ibaraki) of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Factory Ltd. and launched operations as Sawai Pharmaceutical’s Kashima Factory.
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Built Development Center in Suita, Osaka, to which was transferred Sawai’s former Pharmaceutical Technology Center.
2016
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Completed Sanda Nishi Factory in Sanda, Hyogo.
2017
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Sawai’s Pitavastatin tablets approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This made Sawai the first Japanese generic drug maker whose Paragraph IV Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) was approved by the FDA.
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Through Sawai America Inc. (now Sawai America, LLC), Sawai acquired Upsher-Smith Laboratories, LLC.
2019
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Celebrated 90th year in business.
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Packaging for Osteoporosis drug, Minodronic Acid Tablets 50 mg [SAWAI] won an award in the 2019 WorldStar Packaging Awards.
2020
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Entered into co-development and exclusive license agreement with Neugen Pharma, Inc. for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) drug.
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Mitsuo Sawai appointed Chairman and Kenzo Sawai appointed President.
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Entered into capital and business partnership agreement with Susmed, Inc.
2021
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Entered into an exclusive development and marketing agreement with Neurolief Ltd. for a non-invasive digital medical device for migraine and depression.
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Sawai Group Holdings Co., Ltd. established.
Mitsuo Sawai appointed Chairman, Kenzo Sawai appointed Deputy Chairman and Kazuhiko Sueyoshi appointed President. -
Launched personal health record management app, “SaluDi”.
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Trust Pharmatech Co., Ltd. established.
2022
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Signed a development and sales licensing agreement for Digital Therapeutics in Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis with CureApp, Inc.
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Built Injectable production facility in Kyushu Factory.
2023
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Mitsuo Sawai appointed Chairman and President.
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Motohiko Kimura appointed President.
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Receives Approvals for Non-Invasive Neuromodulation Device.