Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo

Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo is a Japanese healthcare company established on July 19, 1950. Its history began with medicines for everyday health needs, including the eye drops Lupaal A, the analgesic Shichin Liquid, and the gastrointestinal medicine Garonin tablets, all introduced in 1951. The company later developed product lines across several areas of health and personal care. Its products and business history include over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines, skincare and cosmetics, health foods and supplements, and other healthcare products. The group website presents products for consumers alongside information on prescription medicines. Notable consumer brands and product families in its history include the cold-medicine line Jikinin, the traditional-formula product line Alopanol, the sensitive-skin skincare line Arouge, the skincare line Jurerich, and the mail-order oral-care brand OraPearl. The company entered the prescription-medicine field in earnest in 1990 and began a biotechnology drug co-development project with the US company IDEC in 1991. It expanded into health foods in the 1990s and skincare in the early 2000s, while continuing to introduce medicines and consumer healthcare products. In 2022, Zenyaku Holdings Co., Ltd. was established; the company website presents its business and product history as part of the Zenyaku Group. The group describes its mission in terms of creating effective products and contributing to people’s health and well-being. Its documented product activity is centered on Japan.

Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo was established on July 19, 1950. Its first documented products followed in 1951: the eye drops Lupaal A, the analgesic Shichin Liquid, and the gastrointestinal medicine Garonin tablets. In 1954, it added the infant nutritional product Relief Food. A skin-disease medicine research association was formed in 1955, and the company expanded its facilities with a factory in Oizumi, Nerima, in 1958. That year also marked the start of the Jikinin line with the launch of Jikinin C tablets, alongside the general health product Dokuman. Zenyaku Hanbai Co., Ltd. was established in 1959. The company continued developing its research and production infrastructure during the following decades. It opened a research institute in Nerima in 1962, launched products including Katase calcium tablets and Back liquid in 1963, and introduced the tonic Licorice ‘Zenyaku’ in 1965. Its head office building was completed in Bunkyo in 1967. Later product and operational developments included the antifungal Kozac in 1977 and the mildly acidic soap Lomocoat in 1978. During the 1980s, the company broadened its product range with the traditional-formula medicine Alopanol in 1980 and new Jikinin granules in 1983. A Tochigi factory was completed in 1985, with production moved to Otawara. Zenyaku entered prescription medicines in earnest in 1990 and began a biotechnology drug co-development project with US-based IDEC in 1991. It entered the health-food market in earnest in 1994 with the ‘Yojō’ food Salmon Zinc, and launched the Healthmate health-supplement series in 1997. The sensitive-skin and dry-skin product Apit Gel, a precursor to Arouge, followed in 1998. The company introduced the antifungal product Zefnart in 2000 and launched Arouge, a basic skincare line for sensitive skin, in 2001. Its history also records the launch of Rituxan in 2001. Jurerich, a skincare line promoting age-appropriate moisture care, followed in 2004. Later product additions included the ‘Yojō’ collagen food in 2007 and the mail-order oral-care line OraPearl in 2011. Zenyaku added further consumer products during the 2010s, including Alopanol oral liquid, Jikinin throat-care products, and OraPearl oral-care extensions. In 2020, product launches included the Arouge Enrich line, Jurerich Lueur, and the P’s Guard disinfection product series. A research and development center opened in Hachioji in 2021, when the company also introduced Dokuman Sigma and the mail-order Mikomoi series. Zenyaku Holdings Co., Ltd. was established in 2022. That year’s launches included the Alopanol Medical series, new Jikinin lines, and additional Arouge and Jurerich offerings. In 2023, the company designated September 29 as ‘Cold Preparedness Day’ and introduced another OraPearl toothpaste flavor. The supplied history page begins a 2024 entry about a group logo and color, but the evidence does not include the remainder of that entry.

• 2023

  Designated September 29 as Cold Preparedness Day

• 2022

  Zenyaku Holdings Co., Ltd. established

• 2021

  Research and development center opened in Hachioji

• 2011

  Started mail-order business and launched OraPearl

• 2004

  Launched the Jurerich skincare line

• 2001

  Launched the Arouge sensitive-skin skincare line

• 1994

  Entered the health-food market in earnest

• 1991

  Began biotechnology drug co-development with US company IDEC

• 1990

  Entered prescription medicines in earnest

• 1959

  Zenyaku Hanbai Co., Ltd. established

• 1958

  Oizumi factory opened and the Jikinin line began with Jikinin C tablets

• 1951

  First documented products launched, including Lupaal A, Shichin Liquid, and Garonin tablets

• 1950

  Nippon Zenyaku Kogyo established

A Japanese healthcare company emphasizing product quality and the creation of products intended to serve consumers’ health and well-being, across medicines, skincare, and health foods.

• Jikinin

  A cold-medicine product line that began in 1958.

• Alopanol

  A traditional-formula product line introduced in 1980, with later oral-liquid and medical product launches.

• Arouge

  A basic skincare line for sensitive skin, launched in 2001.

• Jurerich

  A skincare line introduced in 2004 for age-appropriate moisture care.

• OraPearl

  A mail-order oral-care line introduced in 2011.

1. 1全薬グループzenyaku.co.jp
2. 2沿革 | グループについて | 全薬グループzenyaku.co.jp