Global perspective

Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan
Daiichi Sankyo headquarters in Tokyo, Japan

More than 100 years at the forefront of pharmaceutical innovation

Daiichi Sankyo is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address the diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets.

While maintaining its portfolio of marketed pharmaceuticals for hypertension, hyperlipidemia and bacterial infections, Daiichi Sankyo is also engaged in the development of treatments for thrombotic disorders and focuses on the discovery of novel oncology and cardiovascular-metabolic therapies.

The company's roots extend back to 1899 and the early days of industrialisation of the pharmaceutical sector. The company was created in 2005 through the merger of two traditional Japanese enterprises, Daiichi and Sankyo. Daiichi Sankyo's world headquarters are in Tokyo, Japan, and its European base is located in Munich, Germany.

The company does business in nearly 60 countries around the world, including 12 European countries. Daiichi Sankyo has been one of the strongest Japanese pharmaceutical companies located in Europe since it set up its European production facilities and marketing offices in 1990. With net sales of nearly €8.55 billion in fiscal year 2010 (as of 31 March 2011), Daiichi Sankyo is one of the world's 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Daiichi Sankyo employs almost 30,500 people, who passionately work to achieve the company's goals. In delivering high-quality products, services and processes, precision serves as another cornerstone of the company's philosophy.

Meaning of Daiichi Sankyo

Daiichi represents the company's goal to develop and manufacture first-in-class medicines of premier quality. Ichi is the Japanese word for number one. Sankyo comes from san, which means three in Japanese, and kyo, which means working together. This derives from the fact that Sankyo was co-founded by three people.