Shionogi

Shionogi & Company, Limited (塩野義製薬株式会社) is a Japanese pharmaceutical company best known for developing Crestor. Medical supply and brand name also uses katakana (シオノギ).

Shionogi has business roots that date back to 1878, and was incorporated in 1919. Among the medicines produced are for hyperlipidaemia, antibiotics, and cancer medicines.

In Japan it is particularly known as a producer of antimicrobial and antibiotics. Because of antibiotic resistance and slow growth of the antibiotic market, it has teamed up with US based Schering-Plough (merged in 2009 with Merck & Co) to become a sole marketing agent for its products in Japan.

Shionogi had supported the initial formation of Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, a generic manufacturer based in India. In 2012 the company became a partial owner of ViiV Healthcare, a pharmaceutical company specialising in the development of therapies for HIV.

The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange and is constituent of the Nikkei 225 stock index.

In June 2023, Shionogi announced its acquisition of Qpex Biopharma for approximately $140m.

Released

 * Avelox, antibacterial antiseptic that treats a number of infections.
 * Claritin, An anti-histamine marketed in alliance with Schering-Plough.
 * Crestor, cholesterol drug [[Image:Shionogi.JPG|thumb|right|Shionogi Headquarters in Osaka|315x315px]], marketing rights sold to AstraZeneca in 1998.
 * Cymbalta, an SNRI class anti-depressant, marketed in alliance with Eli Lilly.
 * Differin (developed by Galderma), a topical retinoid for acne, marketed in Japan in alliance with Galderma.
 * Fortamet
 * Methylin
 * Mogadon, a short-term treatment for insomnia.
 * Mulpleta, a thrombopoietin receptor agonist.
 * Osphena, an estrogen receptor agonist, marketing rights sold to Duchesnay in 2017.
 * Symproic, a μ-opioid receptor antagonist, for opioid-induced constipation treatment.
 * Xofluza, an endonuclease inhibitor, for influenza treatment.
 * Ensitrelvir (S-217622), the first Japanese domestic pill to treat COVID-19, yet to be approved in Japan; as of September 2022.

Under development

 * Asapiprant (BGE-175), a DP1 receptor antagonist under development for treatment of COVID-19 in elderly patients and allergic rhinitis.

Media

 * Shionogi has a close relationship with Fuji Television Network, Inc., because Shionogi is the sponsor of "Music Fair" (as of January 2010, aired on 17 TV stations including TV Oita System Co.) started in 1964.
 * Shionogi was a main sponsor of Team Lotus in the team's final years between 1991 and 1994.