Sumitomo Chemical started its pharmaceuticals business as the first Japanese company to manufacture synthetic pharmaceuticals based on its advanced organic synthesis technology. At present, the Company is developing the Sector through Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., engaged in ethical pharmaceuticals business, and Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd., engaged in the diagnostic pharmaceuticals business.
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.
Products developed by Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma
Focusing on the areas of cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, cancer and infectious diseases, the company markets AVAPRO™ (therapeutic agent for hypertension), LONASEN™ (antipsychotic agent), PRORENAL™ (vasodilator), TRERIEF™ (therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease), and MIRIPLA™ (therapeutic agent for hepatocellular carcinoma). The company is also building its overseas marketing capabilities for LATUDA™ (antipsychotic agent) centered on the US company, which Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma acquired as a subsidiary in October 2009 in its active efforts to develop its overseas business.
Nihon Medi-Physics Co., Ltd.
Images showing lung metastasis from breast cancer (by PET)
Nihon Medi-Physics is the leading manufacturer of diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals, which play a vital role in the early diagnosis of heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and malignant tumors.
The company supplies its radiopharmaceutical for PET (positron emission tomography), which is considered useful in diagnosing cancers at an early stage.
Also, beyond the diagnostic field, the company is active in the area of treatments, providing its ONCOSEED™, implantation seeds used in brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer, as well as METASTRON™ injectable, a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical that provides pain relief for cancer patients suffering from bone metastasis.
Furthermore, in 2009, the company launched SentiProbe™, a medical device used to confirm the presence of lymph node metastasis in early breast cancer and malignant melanoma.


