MUNICH, Germany, April 2 /PRNewswire/ -- With the completion of its worldwide integration process on April 1st , 2007, DAIICHI SANKYO has set the course for further global growth. The pharmaceutical concern believes that its future lies in pursuing its ambitious plan of becoming a ‘global pharma innovator’. In Europe, strengthened structures and two research centres will push the business with innovative products.
Through the merger of the two pharmaceutical firms with Japanese origin DAIICHI SANKYO has strengthened its position as one of the top three pharmaceutical companies in Japan and as one of the 20 leading global pharmaceutical concerns. The business strategy is to focus on the company’s research activities in order to continue to ensure the development of innovative products. Apart from the strategic expansion of the R&D pipeline, the development of the most important products such as Olmesartan (anti-hypertensive agent) and Levofloxacin (antibiotic) will provide an increase in sales. In addition, strategic investment is to drive the worldwide expansion of business activities.
In Europe, too, the company wants to fortify its presence. The sales target for Europe is EUR 525 million for 2009. With sales of around EUR 330 million in 2006, this represents a rise of almost 63 percent. To achieve this, the company continues to rely on expansion, which means boosting its R&D activities. With two European research centres in Munich and London respectively, which employ a total staff of 130, DAIICHI SANKYO embraces its role as a research-based company, which is central to the company in Europe, too. This structure supports the global research activities of the company. Whilst clinical research is based in the US, global basic research is controlled from Japan.
The European launch of the thrombocyte aggregation inhibitor Prasugrel (planned for the 1st quarter of 2009), which will be undertaken in cooperation with Eli Lilly, will present another milestone for DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE. Apart from Prasugrel, a combination drug consisting of Olmesartan and Amlodipine as well as the high-dose preparation OLMETEC Plus(R) (combination drug based on Olmesartan and a diuretic) will be coming through the product pipeline for Europe.
The company merger was initiated eighteen months ago when DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY LIMITED became the joint holding company on September 28, 2005. After the merger of DAIICHI and SANKYO in the US, the most important step in Europe was changing the name from SANKYO PHARMA GmbH to DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH in July last year. April 1st, 2007, saw the completion of the worldwide merger process.
For further information visit, www.daiichi-sankyo.eu
Contact Olaf Lamberz Corporate Communication Phone +49-(0)89-78-08-442 olaf.lamberz@daiichi-sankyo.eu
Distributed by PR Newswire on behalf of DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH
