DAIICHI SANKYO EUROPE GmbH

First isolation of adrenaline by Dr. Jokichi Takamine, the first president of Sankyo Shoten

Our roots in Europe can be traced back to Luitpold-Werk, a pharmaceutical company founded on 22 January 1910 in Munich, Germany.

The company established its first factory on Munich’s Zielstattstrasse in 1928, with over 100 employees, producing primarily digestive enzymes shipped to about 50 countries.

By 1942, the number of employees had risen to about 300, despite difficulties in obtaining raw materials and limited export options.

In 1943, Munich was bombed, destroying the facilities on Zielstattstrasse. Business activities continued with departments moving to temporary offices and laboratories across the city, leading to the decision to build new production facilities in Pfaffenhofen.

After World War II, business activities resumed within months. In the 1950s and 1960s, new offices in Munich and production facilities in Pfaffenhofen were established.

From 1962, Luitpold-Werk increased its international presence by establishing affiliates in Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, and Italy, and built a new production site in Altkirch, France.

Discovery of the first HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor by Sankyo - origin of the statin class

Between 1981 and 1986, subsidiaries were established in the United States, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, expanding Luitpold’s international presence.

Daiichi discovers levofloxacin, the first third-generation quinolone

Sankyo established two international subsidiaries in New York and Düsseldorf, and Luitpold founded an affiliate in Austria.

Sankyo acquired Luitpold-Werk, gaining a presence in Europe and Latin America.

Luitpold-Werk was renamed Sankyo Pharma.

Launch of olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker

Sankyo launched olmesartan (Olmetec®/Benicar®) and acquired Paris-based Laboratories Fornet to expand in Europe.

Sankyo and Daiichi established a joint holding company in Japan named Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, followed by the European merger in 2006.

Daiichi Sankyo Europe was founded as the new European headquarters in Munich, integrating business activities in the UK and Germany.

Further investments were made in the German production site in Pfaffenhofen, with new facilities opened.

U3 Pharma was acquired to strengthen oncology pipeline, and rights for Evista® (raloxifene) were acquired from Eli Lilly.

Efient® (prasugrel), an oral antiplatelet agent, was launched in several European countries.

New affiliates opened in Ireland and Turkey; sales force capacity increased by taking over representatives from Merck Serono, growing European employees to nearly 2,500.

Following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, support was provided to colleagues, including taking over drug production in Pfaffenhofen, and launching 'Daiichi Sankyo Children Aid' for affected children.

Presented Phase III results of the Hokusai-VTE study for edoxaban at ESC congress, and announced results from ENGAGE AF-TIMI 48 study.

Daiichi Sankyo acquired Ambit Biosciences; a new Pharmaceutical Development building was inaugurated at Pfaffenhofen, providing facilities for 100 employees.

Launch of edoxaban, a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) and direct factor Xa inhibitor

Edoxaban was approved in the European Union and introduced in the first markets.

A licensing agreement was concluded with Esperion for marketing oral bempedoic acid and its fixed-dose combination.

European Commission approval and first launch of bempedoic acid in Europe. Bempedoic acid and its fixed-dose combination with ezetimibe is approved for use in adults with primary hypercholesterolaemia or mixed dyslipidaemia in Europe

Bempedoic acid and its fixed-dose combination with ezetimibe were approved in the EU in April 2020, later introduced into the market in late 2020, with relief efforts launched during COVID-19.

Daiichi Sankyo’s first oncological product received conditional approval in Europe in January 2021.

In April 2023, Daiichi Sankyo opened a new Canadian affiliate as part of the European region.

Further milestones of around 1 billion euros have been implemented at the Pfaffenhofen site to develop it into an international innovation centre for oncology.