Shionogi

Shionogi & Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based pharmaceutical company engaged in the research, development, purchase, manufacture, and sale of pharmaceuticals, as well as pharmaceutical-related businesses. Shionogi's research scientists have discovered therapeutics including naldemedine, rosuvastatin and dolutegravir, and are currently working on many more potential future products. The company's research and development strategy utilizes partnership and licensing opportunities with academic constituents and venture companies.

Shionogi traces it's history back to 1878 when Gisaburo Shiono, Sr., founder of the Company, launched Shiono Gisaburo Shoten a drug wholesaler at the present site of the head office in Doshomachi, Osaka. In 1919, Shiono Gisaburo Shoten and Shiono Seiyakusho merged, and the newly formed company was named Shionogi Shoten. The name was later changed to Shionogi & Co., Ltd.

Shionogi group is made up of 11 companies based in Japan, and 6 more based in Taiwan, USA, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, China, and Singapore.

In 2008, Shionogi acquired Sciele Pharma, Inc., a specialty pharmaceutical company based in Atlanta, Georgia, and in 2011, merged it with Shionogi’s small existing development organization in New Jersey. The resulting company became Shionogi Inc., which has the mandate to bring Shionogi innovation to U.S. patients.

After the outbreak of Covid-19 in early 2020, clinical trials begun to determine the suitability of Shionogi drugs for the treatment of coronavirus. Various combinations of Shinogi and Toyama Chemical drugs baloxavir marboxil/favipiravir and lopinavir/ritonavir are involved in 2 trials. Baloxavir marboxil is a Cap-dependent endonuclease inhibitor and favipiravir is a guanine analog RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor approved for influenza.