Wakamoto Pharmaceutical
Basic Information
- Stock Code
- 4512
- Industry
- Pharmaceuticals
- Category Detail
- Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
- Prefecture
- Tokyo
- Establishment Year
- April 1929
- Listing Year
- May 1949
- Official Website
- https://www.wakamoto-pharm.co.jp/
- TSE Information
- TSE Information
- Yahoo! Finance
- Yahoo! Finance
- Other Companies
- Kyowa Kirin, Fuji Prema, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Astellas Pharma, Shionogi, Chugai Pharmaceutical, Eisai, Ono Pharmaceutical, Santen Pharmaceutical, Daiichi Sankyo, Otsuka Holdings, Toami, N.C.N.
Overview
Wakamoto Pharmaceutical is a pharmaceutical company founded in 1929, featuring the gastrointestinal medicine 'Kyoryoku Wakamoto' as its flagship product, and also engages in prescription pharmaceuticals and health foods as a long-established pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Current Situation
Wakamoto Pharmaceutical recorded net sales of approximately ¥7.7 billion and net profit of approximately ¥100 million for the fiscal year ending March 2024. Its flagship gastrointestinal medicine 'Kyoryoku Wakamoto' boasts high recognition both domestically and internationally, particularly supported by demand from foreign visitors to Japan centered in Taiwan, aiding sales recovery. In the prescription pharmaceuticals sector, it focuses on ophthalmic eye drops and maintains its product lineup. In 2020, it entered into a comprehensive business alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical to strengthen collaboration in research and development and sales. Environmentally, it has obtained ISO 14001 certification and is building a sustainable manufacturing system. Moving forward, it plans to focus on developing supplements and health foods, aiming for growth in the latter half of the 2020s. The company values its traditions while advancing into global markets. Financially, it maintains stable capital and net assets, though some improvements are needed in operating profit.
Trivia
Interesting Facts
- Company emblem inspired by a shot put scene from a movie by the founder.
- Flagship product 'Kyoryoku Wakamoto' renamed from 'Wakaso' in 1931.
- Top brand in gastrointestinal drug category in Taiwan.
- Achieved sales recovery through explosive buying by foreign visitors.
- Long-seller brand continuing for decades in OTC drug market.
- Expanding into doctor's supplements field.
- Pioneered preservative-free containers for ophthalmic eye drops.
- Komazawa University's campus was formerly the site of its own factory.
- Initiated business alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical in 2020.
- Proprietarily developed lactic acid bacterium Enterococcus faecium WB2000 strain.
- Intense labor-management negotiations in pharmaceutical industry led to executive hostage incident.
- Focused on nutrition and childcare in product development since founding.
- Famous celebrities like Junko Sakurada appeared in CMs.
- Products and ads parodied in anime and movies.
- Product name 'Wakamoto' has a long history of being written in hiragana.
Hidden Connections
- Shares technology and sales channels in ophthalmology through alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical.
- Leveraging strong sales network in Taiwan to expand recognition in Asia.
- Komazawa University site is former Tamagawa factory site, deeply related to the local community.
- Founder's love for movies influenced corporate image and emblem.
- Historical cases where labor-management issues were prominently raised internally and externally.
- Lactic acid bacteria technology applied widely from OTC to prescription products.
- Utilizing multiple famous celebrities to enhance brand image.
- Holds strong presence not only in Japan but in medical and health markets across Asia.
Future Outlook
Growth Drivers
- Recovery and expansion of demand from foreign visitors
- Strengthened R&D in prescription pharmaceuticals
- Expansion of general consumer segment with health orientation
- Synergies from collaboration with Rohto Pharmaceutical
- Growth in functional food market
- Enhanced utilization of digital marketing
- Market development through new product launches
- Expansion of exports to Asia
- Brand strengthening through sustainable environmental management
- Strengthened overseas rollout of existing products
Strategic Goals
- Increase overseas sales ratio to over 20%
- Annual R&D investment growth rate of 5% or more
- Eco-products and environmentally friendly packaging ratio of 50% or more
- Double sales in supplement business
- Obtain new approvals for ophthalmic products
- Complete digital promotion infrastructure
- Apply sustainable procurement standards to all products
- Improve brand recognition in emerging markets
- Promote employee diversity
- Expand co-creation programs with local communities
Business Segments
Product Supply to Medical Institutions
- Overview
- Manufactures and sells pharmaceuticals and eye drops for medical settings.
- Competitiveness
- Specialized expertise in ophthalmology and ongoing product development.
- Customers
-
- Ophthalmology clinics
- In-hospital dispensing
- Clinics
- Pharmaceutical wholesalers
- Pharmacies
- Products
-
- Dicloard Ophthalmic Solution
- Rizmon TG Ophthalmic Solution
- Zeplin Ophthalmic Solution
- Macueid Intravitreal Injection
- Nipladilol Ophthalmic Solution
Wholesale of OTC and General Pharmaceuticals
- Overview
- Wholesale and distribution centered on gastrointestinal drugs for general consumers.
- Competitiveness
- Long-loved brand power and stable quality.
- Customers
-
- Drugstore chains
- Mass retailers
- Variety shops
- Retailers
- Mail-order businesses
- Products
-
- Kyoryoku Wakamoto
- Wakamoto Intestine Regulator
- Granule Wakamoto
Health Foods & Supplements Manufacturing and Sales
- Overview
- Develops and sells functional foods and supplements.
- Competitiveness
- Product development leveraging pharmaceutical R&D capabilities.
- Customers
-
- Health food specialty stores
- EC platforms
- Drugstores
- Mail-order businesses
- Pharmacies
- Products
-
- Optieid DE
- Avant Beads Oral Tablet
Pharmaceutical R&D Support
- Overview
- R&D support services for pharmaceutical development to partner companies.
- Competitiveness
- Accumulated technical know-how and industry network.
- Customers
-
- Pharmaceutical companies
- Contract research organizations
- University labs
- Clinical trial organizations
- Products
-
- Research reagents
- Formulation technology support
- Clinical development support
Competitive Advantage
Strengths
- Long-standing brand reliability
- Dual development of pharmaceuticals and health foods
- Expertise in ophthalmology
- Product strength catering to foreign visitors to Japan
- Resource utilization through comprehensive alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical
- Stable financial base
- Diverse product lineup
- Environmental consideration via ISO 14001 certification
- Nationwide sales network
- Continuous investment in R&D and product improvement
- Provision of high-quality prescription pharmaceuticals
- Securing diverse sales channels
- Sustaining effective traditional products
- Uniqueness of lactic acid bacteria technology
- Comprehensive after-sales service and customer support
Competitive Advantages
- Market expansion through demand from foreign visitors
- Technology sharing and sales expansion via business alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical
- Strength in ophthalmology field with high product expertise
- High customer loyalty from long-term brand building
- Stable revenue base from both prescription and OTC pharmaceuticals
- Product development and marketing strategies leveraging historical background
- Broad customer touchpoints through diverse sales channels
- Maintaining competitive edge with new product introductions accompanied by improvements
- Strength in quality control and regulatory compliance
- Differentiation in specialized ophthalmic product lineup
- Strengthening customer base through region-focused sales activities
- Uniqueness of drugs utilizing lactic acid bacteria research outcomes
- Establishment of stable and sustainable manufacturing system
- Customization proposal capabilities aligned with customer needs
- Enhanced recognition in broad domestic and international markets
Threats
- Risk of sales decline due to shrinking OTC drug market
- Intensifying competition and increasing new entrants in pharmaceutical field
- Delays in product launches due to stricter regulations or approval delays
- Cost increases from raw material price fluctuations
- Risk of overseas revenue fluctuations from exchange rate changes
- Demand decline from reduced number of foreign visitors
- Rise of alternative and generic pharmaceuticals
- Shortening product life cycles
- Potential difficulty in responding to diversifying market needs
- Supply chain external shock risks
- Fear of failing to keep pace with speed of technological innovation
- Natural disasters and social instability
Innovations
2020: Comprehensive Business Alliance with Rohto Pharmaceutical Initiated
- Overview
- Strategic alliance concluded for resource sharing in R&D and sales.
- Impact
- Achieved strengthened product lineup and market expansion.
2022: Promotion of Utilization of Proprietary Lactic Acid Bacterium Enterococcus faecium WB2000 Strain
- Overview
- Demonstrated intestinal regulation and dry eye prevention effects through product development using proprietary lactic acid bacteria.
- Impact
- Contributed to new market development in health foods and quasi-drugs.
2023: Improvement and Launch of New Ophthalmic Eye Drops
- Overview
- Began manufacturing eye drops incorporating preservative-free container technology.
- Impact
- Succeeded in differentiation by reducing patient burden.
2024: Enhanced Operation of Environmental Management System ISO 14001
- Overview
- Promoting reduction of environmental impact and sustainability in factory operations.
- Impact
- Contributes to regulatory compliance and improved corporate image.
Sustainability
- Strengthened environmental management through ISO 14001 certification
- Waste reduction and recycling promotion in manufacturing processes
- Active introduction of energy-saving technologies
- Promotion of environmental conservation activities with local communities
- Ensuring pharmaceutical safety and promoting proper use
- Employee education programs for raising environmental awareness
- Selection and management of sustainable procurement sources
- Pursuit of safe and reliable product supply
- Development of environmentally friendly packaging
- Promotion of eco-product development
- Strict management of chemical substances
- Support for local health promotion activities