Corporate History

On April 1, 2022, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma changed its name to Sumitomo Pharma, and will keep on creating innovative pharmaceuticals and healthcare solutions, as it has always done.

Our history to date

2005
  • October 1, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma created.
2006
  • AmBisome® (therapeutic agent for systemic fungal infection) launched in Japan.
2007
  • The laboratory products business was transferred to DS Pharma Biomedical Co., Ltd.
  • Mid-term Business Plan (FY2007-FY2009) drawn up.
2008
  • LONASEN® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in Japan.
  • AVAPRO® (therapeutic agent for hypertension) launched in Japan.
2009
  • TRERIEF® (Parkinson's disease drug) launched in Japan.
  • Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America Holdings, Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) established in the U.S. as a holding company.
  • Acquired Sepracor Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.), which became a wholly owned subsidiary of the U.S. holdings company.
2010
  • MIRIPLA® (therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma) launched in Japan.
  • Second Mid-term Business Plan (FY2010-FY2012) drawn up.
  • Sepracor Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. merged.
  • METGLUCO® (biguanide oral hypoglycemic) launched in Japan.
  • Growth hormone business transferred.
  • Animal Health Products business split off to establish DS Pharma Animal Health Co., Ltd. 
2011
  • LATUDA® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in the U.S. by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • SUREPOST® (rapid-acting insulin secretagogue) launched in Japan.
2012
  • Acquired Boston Biomedical, Inc.
  • Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) acquired Elevation Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 
  • AIMIX® (therapeutic agent for hypertension) launched in Japan.
2013
  • Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd.) established as a subsidiary in Singapore.
  • Third Mid-term Business Plan (FY2013-FY2017) drawn up.
  • Boston Biomedical Pharma, Inc. established in the U.S. as a subsidiary focusing on sales of anti-cancer drugs.
2014
  • Joint venture company, Sighregen Co., Ltd. established.
  • Kobe Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Center (currently, Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center) opened.
    2014
    Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Kobe Center
  • APTIOM® (antiepileptic) launched in the U.S. by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • LATUDA® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in the U.K. by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd.
2015
  • Started promotion of REMITCH® with indication for pruritus in chronic liver disease patients.
2016
  • Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) acquired Cynapsus Therapeutics Inc., a Canadian company.
  • DS Pharma Promo Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma Promo Co., Ltd.) established as a subsidiary for promoting authorized generics etc.
2017
  • Acquired Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
  • Boston Biomedical Pharma, Inc. integrated into its subsidiary Boston Biomedical, Inc. and corporate name changed to Boston Biomedical, Inc.
2018
  • LONASEN® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in China by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.)
  • Manufacturing Plant for Regenerative Medicine & Cell Therapy (SMaRT) completed.
  • LONHALA® MAGNAIR® (therapeutic agent for COPD) launched in the U.S. by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
2019
  • Reorganized product sites from 4 sites to 2 sites.
  • The in-vitro diagnostics business of DS Pharma Biomedical Co., Ltd. is succeeded by a joint venture company and consolidated with DS Pharma Promo Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma Promo Co., Ltd.)
  • Established a subsidiary, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma (Thailand) Co., Ltd.) in Thailand.
  • Mid-term Business Plan 2022 (FY2018-FY2022) drawn up.
  • RETHIO® (conditioning treatment prior to autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) launched in Japan.
  • Started sales of Equa® and EquMet® (therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes) in Japan.
  • LATUDA® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in China by Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.)
  • LONASEN® Tape (atypical antipsychotic) launched in Japan.
  • With the signing of a strategic alliance agreement with Roivant Sciences, a U.S. subsidiary Sumitovant Biopharma was established to hold shares of Myovant Sciences, Urovant Sciences, Enzyvant Therapeutics, Altavant Sciences, and Spirovant Sciences.
2020
  • LATUDA® (atypical antipsychotic) launched in Japan.
  • Boston Biomedical, Inc. and Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc. integrated and corporate name changed to Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Oncology, Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • Joint venture company (S-RACMO Co., Ltd.) for CDMO Business in the field of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Therapy established.
  • A subsidiary, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals Taiwan Co., Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma Taiwan Co., Ltd.) established in Taiwan.
  • KYNMOBI® launched in the U.S. by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
2021
  • ORGOVYX® (therapeutic agent for advanced prostate cancer) launched in the U.S. by Myovant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • Sumitovant Biopharma Ltd. made Urovant Sciences Ltd., a U.S. consolidated subsidiary, its wholly-owned subsidiary.
  • GEMTESA® (therapeutic agent for overactive bladder (OAB)) launched in the U.S. by Urovant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • Transferred shares of Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Europe Ltd.
  • MYFEMBREE® (therapeutic agent for uterine fibroids) launched in the U.S. by Myovant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • TWYMEEG® (therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes) launched in Japan.
  • Entered into an agreement for joint development and commercialization in Psychiatry and Neurology area with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
  • A subsidiary (Sumitomo Pharma Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.) established in Malaysia.
2022
  • Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd. changed its company name to Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.
  • RYTHYMIC® (cultured thymus tissue for pediatric congenital athymia) launched in the U.S. by Enzyvant Therapeutics Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.)
  • Started promotion for Agalsidase Beta BS I.V. Infusion [JCR] (therapeutic agent for Fabry disease) in Japan.
2023
  • Sumitomo Pharma Food & Chemical Co., Ltd. transferred.
  • Sumitomo Pharma Animal Health Co., Ltd. transferred.
  • Started co-promotion for IZCARGO® (recombinant therapeutic for mucopolysaccharidosis type II) in Japan.
  • Mid-term Business Plan 2027 (FY2023-FY2027) drawn up.
  • Combined Group companies in the U.S. and Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. launched.
2024
  • Entered into an amendment agreement for joint development and commercialization in Psychiatry and Neurology area with Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
  • The establishment of RACTHERA Co., Ltd., a joint venture with Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. for the regenerative medicine and cell therapy business.
2025
  • Started co-promotion for XEPLION® and XEPLION TRI® (long-acting antipsychotic medication) in Japan.
  • Started co-promotion for Ozempic® (therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes)in Japan.
  • The Asian business was transferred to Marubeni Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., a joint venture established with Marubeni Global Pharma Corporation.