New businesses

Message from responsible officer

Supporting healthy lives by providing patients with new options

Ph.D., Executive Officer, Group Chief Product Strategy officer, Group Deputy Chief Research & Development Officer, and General Manager of Group Product Strategy Department

Toyohiro Sawada

The Sawai Group’s first initiative to develop a medical device, the Relivion neuromodulation device for treating migraine headaches, received manufacturing and marketing approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in December 2023. We are now working closely with relevant academic societies and regulatory authorities to prepare for the launch.

The R&D Division, Reliability Assurance Division, and other departments combined their expertise to overcome unprecedented challenges. While migraines are currently treated with medications, the Relivion device provides a non-pharmacological alternative usable anywhere, even in the home. We believe this technology will greatly benefit healthcare professionals and the many patients who suffer from migraines.

Developing this innovative equipment also allowed us to build an internal framework that complements our generic drug business with medical device development. This broader foundation enables us to offer more treatment options addressing unmet medical needs, and is in line with our dedication to building a healthier future for all.

The Relivion non-invasive neuromodulation device developed by Sawai Pharmaceutical is the first medical device in Japan approved for in-home use for the acute treatment of migraines.

When placed on the head, Relivion relieves pain during acute migraine attacks by electrically stimulating the occipital and trigeminal nerves through the skin. Conventional migraine treatments rely on medicines, but Relivion adds the new option of an effective medical device that can be used in the home.

The device will be distributed through the CureApp, Inc. application prescription service (APS) platform and will be available to medical institutions nationwide via APS after the device is authorized for insurance coverage.

In August 2024, we signed a sales licensing agreement with CureApp for HAUDY^*, a digital therapeutic to reduce alcohol consumption. CureApp, the developer, received manufacturing and marketing approval in February 2025, making HAUDY the first app in Japan approved for adjunctive treatment of alcoholism. Sawai Pharmaceutical is preparing to secure insurance coverage with the aim of launching the app by the end of 2025.

Alcoholism is a disease that causes mental and physical dependence on alcohol. Early intervention is particularly difficult because many potential patients are unaware of the condition.

The HAUDY app provides psychosocial treatment for patients seeking to reduce their alcohol consumption. The Patient App uses patient input on their daily alcohol consumption and physical condition to propose personalized goals that encourage behavioral changes that can help reduce consumption. The app’s treatment efficacy is further enhanced by the linked Doctor App, which enables doctors to monitor the patient’s daily consumption and provide counseling.

• *HAUDY is the sales name for CureApp AUD: A Digital Therapeutic to Reduce Alcohol Consumption