Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is a Big Pharma brand from Japan.
Last updated October 13, 2026
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Overview
Tanabe Pharma is a Japanese pharmaceutical company headquartered in Osaka. The business traces its history to 1678 and presents itself as one of the world's oldest pharmaceutical companies. Its historical development combines a long-running Tanabe medicine business with pharmaceutical operations assembled through alliances, mergers, and ownership changes involving Mitsubishi Chemical and other Japanese healthcare companies. The company's modern corporate identity emerged from the consolidation of Mitsubishi-affiliated and Tanabe-affiliated pharmaceutical operations. Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals, whose roots are associated with the Tanabe family pharmacy business, entered a business alliance with Mitsubishi Chemical Industries in 1981. In 1999, Mitsubishi Chemical and Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals formally combined their pharmaceutical activities to create Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals. A further merger in 2001 with Welfide Corporation produced Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation. On October 1, 2007, Tanabe Seiyaku merged with Mitsubishi Pharma, creating Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, the name used for much of the company's modern international history. Tanabe Pharma's activities have centered on prescription medicines and pharmaceutical research, with additional involvement in over-the-counter products and broader healthcare-related businesses. Publicly described research areas include neurology, immunology, metabolism, and renal disease. The company and its affiliates have also worked on new drug mechanisms, including early development work on bromodomain and extraterminal-domain, or BET, inhibitor molecules. One of the company's most prominent products is edaravone, marketed in the United States as Radicava. The intravenous formulation received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 2017 for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, with the treatment intended to slow decline in physical function. The company's U.S. operations also supported access to infusion centers and healthcare locations. An orally disintegrating riluzole product, Exservan, extended the company's ALS offering into an oral dosage form. The business has used external collaborations to expand its research capabilities. In 2014, it announced a three-year collaboration with AstraZeneca focused on diabetic nephropathy, with the stated goal of developing approaches that could help patients avoid dialysis or kidney transplantation. In 2017, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma acquired NeuroDerm, a transaction intended to strengthen its neurological and central-nervous-system portfolio. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation became the company's corporate parent through the restructuring of Mitsubishi's chemical and pharmaceutical businesses. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange in February 2020 and thereafter operated as a group company rather than as an independently listed public company. In February 2025, Bain Capital agreed to acquire the pharmaceutical business for ¥510 billion, according to the cited reference material. The material does not establish whether that proposed transaction had completed. The corporate name was reported as Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation through November 30, 2025, after which the Wikipedia subject uses Tanabe Pharma.
History
Tanabe Pharma traces its historical identity to a medicine-trading business established in Japan in the seventeenth century. Reference material identifies 1678 as the foundation date used by the company and records an earlier 1604 license granted to Tanabeya Matazaemon by Tokugawa Ieyasu for trading herbal medicines with Luzon and Siam. These dates describe the historical roots claimed for the business rather than the incorporation date of the present corporate entity. A later stage of the Tanabe lineage developed through Motosaburo Tanabe. In 1901, Motosaburo Tanabe established a pharmacy in Tokyo, and that business was incorporated in 1921 as Motosaburo Tanabe Shoten. It changed its name to Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals in 1943. The Tanabe pharmaceutical business subsequently became connected with the industrial and pharmaceutical consolidation led by Mitsubishi Chemical. Mitsubishi-affiliated pharmaceutical history also involved Takeda Kasei, established in 1940 by Chobei Takeda and Nippon Kasei Chemical. Takeda Kasei changed its name to Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical in 1946 and was listed on the Tokyo and Osaka exchanges in 1949. Separately, The Blood Plasma Corporation of Japan was established in 1950 and changed its name to Green Cross Corporation in 1964. Green Cross was acquired by Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical in 1998 and became part of the corporate succession that led to Welfide Corporation. Mitsubishi Chemical Industries established a business alliance with Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals in 1981. Mitsubishi Chemical Industries became Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation in 1984 following a merger with Mitsubishi Petrochemical. In 1999, Mitsubishi Chemical and Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals formally combined their pharmaceutical operations to form Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals. Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals merged with Welfide Corporation in 2001, creating Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Mitsubishi Pharma were brought together again within Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings in 2005. The present-day Mitsubishi Tanabe identity was created on October 1, 2007, when Tanabe Seiyaku merged with Mitsubishi Pharma. The resulting company developed prescription medicines and research programs across several therapeutic areas. Its later portfolio became particularly visible in neurology through edaravone, an intravenous treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the product, marketed as Radicava, in 2017. The company also developed or marketed Exservan, an orally disintegrating riluzole product for ALS. Research and business development continued through collaborations and acquisitions. In 2014, the company announced a three-year research collaboration with AstraZeneca in diabetic nephropathy. In 2017, it acquired NeuroDerm for a reported $1.1 billion, reinforcing its neurological development activities. In February 2020, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and operated as a company within the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group. The reference material states that Bain Capital agreed in February 2025 to acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for ¥510 billion. It does not provide enough information to establish closing of the transaction or the company's ownership after the announcement. The corporate name was reported as Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation through November 30, 2025, while the Wikipedia subject is titled Tanabe Pharma.
- 2025
Bain Capital acquisition agreement
[1]Bain Capital agreed to acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for ¥510 billion; completion is not established by the available material.
- 2020
Tokyo Stock Exchange delisting
[1]Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange and continued as part of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group.
- 2017
Radicava approved in the United States
[1]The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved edaravone, marketed as Radicava, for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- 2007
Tanabe Seiyaku merges with Mitsubishi Pharma
[1]On October 1, Tanabe Seiyaku merged with Mitsubishi Pharma, creating Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.
- 2005
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings established
[1]Mitsubishi Pharma joined Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation within the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings structure.
- 2001
Mitsubishi Pharma created through merger
[1]Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals merged with Welfide Corporation to establish Mitsubishi Pharma Corporation.
- 1999
Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals formed
[1]Mitsubishi Chemical and Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals formally combined their pharmaceutical operations to establish Mitsubishi-Tokyo Pharmaceuticals.
- 1981
Mitsubishi Chemical begins alliance with Tokyo Tanabe
[1]Mitsubishi Chemical Industries established a business alliance with Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals.
- 1943
Name changed to Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals
[1]Motosaburo Tanabe Shoten adopted the name Tokyo Tanabe Pharmaceuticals.
- 1921
Motosaburo Tanabe Shoten incorporated
[1]The Motosaburo Tanabe pharmacy business was incorporated as Motosaburo Tanabe Shoten.
Products and positioning
A research-based Japanese pharmaceutical company combining long historical roots with prescription-drug development in neurology, metabolism, immunology, and related therapeutic areas.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy · 2017
Radicava
Radicava is the U.S. brand for edaravone, an intravenous treatment developed by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it in 2017. The treatment is intended to slow decline in physical function in eligible ALS patients. The company's U.S. organization also created a locator intended to help patients and healthcare professionals identify infusion centers and other treatment locations.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis therapy
Exservan
Exservan is an orally disintegrating tablet containing riluzole for ALS. It represents an oral-dosage offering within the company's ALS portfolio, complementing the intravenous edaravone product Radicava. The available reference material identifies the product and its formulation but does not provide a launch date or a complete current-market status.
Drug-discovery platform
BET inhibitor research molecules
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceuticals developed the first BET inhibitor molecules, according to the cited reference material. BET inhibitors target bromodomain and extraterminal-domain proteins and represent an experimental drug-discovery approach rather than a named commercial product in the available source.
Controversies
1950
Historical controversy surrounding The Blood Plasma Corporation of Japan
The reference material states that The Blood Plasma Corporation of Japan was founded in 1950 by individuals including Kitano Masaji, whom it associates with human experimentation and torture conducted by Unit 731 during World War II. This historical allegation concerns the corporation's founding personnel and predecessor-company history, not a contemporary Tanabe Pharma product or operating practice.
Brand decisions
2025
Agree to proposed Bain Capital acquisitionM&ABackground
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma's owner agreed to a proposed sale of the pharmaceutical business to American private-equity firm Bain Capital.
Action taken
Bain Capital agreed in February 2025 to acquire Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma for ¥510 billion.
Aftermath
The available reference does not establish whether the transaction closed or whether ownership and operating arrangements subsequently changed.
Agreed acquisition value. ¥510 billion (February 2025 agreement)
2020
Delist from the Tokyo Stock ExchangeOtherBackground
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma had become part of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings group structure.
Action taken
The company was delisted from the Tokyo Stock Exchange on February 27, 2020.
Aftermath
The company continued as a member of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group rather than as an independently listed issuer.
2017
Acquire NeuroDermM&ABackground
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma sought to expand its neurological and central-nervous-system development portfolio.
Action taken
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma acquired NeuroDerm in a transaction reported at $1.1 billion.
Aftermath
The acquisition strengthened the company's stated presence in neurological drug development, although the available material provides no further integration or product-outcome details.
Reported acquisition value. $1.1 billion (2017 acquisition)
2014
Collaborate with AstraZeneca on diabetic nephropathyStrategyBackground
Diabetic nephropathy can progress to severe kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplantation. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma sought external research collaboration in this therapeutic area.
Action taken
The company announced a three-year research collaboration with AstraZeneca focused on diabetic nephropathy.
Aftermath
The available material does not describe the collaboration's clinical or commercial outcome.
Recent events
LEO Pharma acquires worldwide rights to dersimelagon from Tanabe Pharma[2]
Reported:
LEO Pharma agreed to acquire worldwide rights to dersimelagon, an oral once-daily MC1R agonist being developed for EPP and XLP, from Tanabe Pharma for up to $435m in up-front and near-term milestone payments plus potential downstream milestones and tiered royalties on net sales.
Sources2 sources
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