History

Recognized Leaders in medical science for more than a century

Daiichi Sankyo's heritage of scientific discovery spans 110 years – from the discovery of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and the development of the statin class of lipid-lowering agents to the development of the first glitazone, which revolutionized long-term control of type 2 diabetes.

Today, our products are helping patients in more than 20 countries around the world including the United States, Japan, Asia and Europe. 

Our Legacy in the U.S.

The thousands of cherry trees that line the tidal basin in West Potomac Park aren't a natural phenomenon. They represent a cross-cultural partnership between the United States and Japan that was forged 100 years ago.

In 1912, world-famous chemist and our company's first president Dr. Jokichi Takamine, orchestrated the gift of 3,000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo to the city of Washington, D.C. as a symbol of harmony between our two nations. And while this historic gift was launched with a simple ceremony on March 27 a century ago, with First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, how and why the trees came to the U.S. is more intricate.

Daiichi Sankyo's connection to these trees and the collaborative role our first president played continues to inspire our company today. Not only is the gift of trees an important symbol of our philanthropic mission and our corporate culture of global collaboration, it is also an important part of our history and part of Dr. Takamine's legacy. Our partnerships have produced a pipeline of innovative medicines that will help people for years to come.

Daiichi Sankyo continues to build on Dr. Takamine's legacy by contributing to the communities where we live and work. We honor Dr. Takamine's legacy today through philanthropic and volunteer efforts that include support for science, education and access to medical care across the globe.

Daiichi Sankyo Around the Globe

Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. was established in 2005 with the merger of two leading century-old pharmaceutical companies, Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Sankyo Co., Ltd. Daiichi Sankyo maintains a portfolio of marketed pharmaceuticals for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and bacterial infections around the world and also focuses on the discovery of novel oncology therapies. Headquartered in Tokyo, the company 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.

Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. began operating in the U.S. in 2006. It is the U.S. subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo, Co., LTD and a member of the Daiichi Sankyo Group. The organization, which includes U.S. commercial operations and global clinical development (Daiichi Sankyo Pharma Development), is headquartered in New Jersey.

Daiichi Sankyo Europe, GmbH, the European subsidiary, is headquartered in Munich, Germany. The organization is responsible for development and manufacturing for 12 European countries.