SHIONOGI
A Japanese pharmaceutical company with longstanding strengths in antimicrobial medicines, infectious diseases, pain, and specialty therapies.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
SHIONOGI, formally Shionogi & Company, Limited, is a Japanese pharmaceutical company whose business roots extend to 1878 and whose corporate entity was incorporated in 1919. Based in Osaka, the company develops, manufactures, licenses, and markets prescription medicines across several therapeutic areas. It is especially associated with antimicrobial and anti-infective medicines in Japan, while its broader portfolio has included treatments for lipid disorders, influenza, COVID-19, opioid-induced constipation, cancer-related conditions, psychiatric disorders, dermatology, and hematology. The company’s history reflects the changing structure of the pharmaceutical industry. In Japan, Shionogi became a prominent supplier of antibiotics and other antimicrobial products. Because antibiotic resistance and relatively slow growth in the antibiotic market created commercial and scientific challenges, the company also used alliances to broaden its portfolio and market access. Its collaborations with Schering-Plough brought products such as Claritin and Avelox to the Japanese market; Schering-Plough later became part of Merck & Co. Shionogi also worked with Eli Lilly on Cymbalta and with Galderma on the Japanese marketing of Differin. These relationships illustrate a strategy that combined internal research with licensing, co-development, and regional commercialization rights. Shionogi has participated in both branded medicines and biotechnology partnerships. It supported the early formation of Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals, an Indian generic-drug manufacturer, and became a partial owner of ViiV Healthcare in 2012. ViiV focuses on HIV medicines, giving Shionogi an interest in a major global infectious-disease franchise beyond its traditional Japanese operations. The company has also transferred or sold selected rights, including rights related to Crestor and Osphena, demonstrating that its portfolio strategy includes out-licensing as well as in-licensing. Among the medicines most closely associated with the modern SHIONOGI brand are Xofluza, an oral influenza treatment based on an endonuclease-inhibiting mechanism; ensitrelvir, a Japanese-developed oral COVID-19 treatment; and Symproic, a mu-opioid receptor antagonist for opioid-induced constipation. Other released or marketed medicines associated with the company include antibacterial products, cholesterol medicines, antihistamines, antidepressants, insomnia treatments, dermatology products, and hematology therapies. Product availability and commercialization rights vary by country and over time. The company is publicly listed in Japan under ticker 4507.T and is identified as a constituent of the Nikkei 225. Its activities extend beyond direct product sales into research partnerships, licensing, regional marketing arrangements, and acquisitions. In June 2023, Shionogi announced the acquisition of Qpex Biopharma for approximately US$140 million, strengthening its interest in anti-infective drug discovery. In 2024, it also entered an agreement with Cilcare concerning rights to two drug candidates, CIL001 and CIL003, for hearing-loss indications. SHIONOGI has maintained a visible consumer-facing presence in Japan through sponsorship of Fuji Television’s long-running music program Music Fair. The company sponsored the program from its launch in 1964, later through Shionogi Healthcare. In January 2025, it decided to remove its name from the program amid the Fuji TV–Masahiro Nakai scandal, while calling for the broadcaster to explain the facts and its future actions. The decision showed how the company’s corporate reputation and public communications can be affected by the conduct of a media partner. Overall, SHIONOGI is positioned as a research-oriented Japanese pharmaceutical brand with a particularly strong identity in infectious disease and antimicrobial innovation, complemented by international partnerships and a diversified specialty-medicine portfolio.
History
Shionogi’s business origins date to 1878 in Japan, while Shionogi & Company was incorporated as a corporate entity in 1919. From its early development, the company built an identity around pharmaceutical research and the supply of medicines for the Japanese market. Over time, antimicrobial and antibiotic products became particularly important to its domestic reputation, establishing a connection between the SHIONOGI name and anti-infective treatment. The company’s development took place against the background of a pharmaceutical sector increasingly shaped by licensing, multinational partnerships, and specialization. Antibiotics remained medically important, but antibiotic resistance and limited market growth created pressure for companies to diversify their research pipelines and commercial portfolios. Shionogi responded through a combination of internal development and alliances with overseas pharmaceutical companies. Its Japanese marketing relationship with Schering-Plough brought products including Claritin and Avelox into its portfolio. Schering-Plough subsequently merged with Merck & Co. in 2009, linking Shionogi’s Japanese commercial activities to a larger global pharmaceutical network. Shionogi also participated in the development of generic-drug and biotechnology businesses. It supported the initial formation of Ranbaxy Pharmaceuticals in India and, in 2012, became a partial owner of ViiV Healthcare. ViiV’s focus on HIV therapies broadened Shionogi’s international infectious-disease exposure and gave the company a stake in a specialist global healthcare enterprise. The company’s marketed and licensed medicines have covered a wide range of therapeutic areas. Its associated products have included Crestor for hyperlipidaemia, Cymbalta for depression and related conditions, Differin for acne, Mogadon for insomnia, Symproic for opioid-induced constipation, Mulpleta for thrombocytopenia-related care, and Osphena for estrogen-receptor-related indications. Some products were commercialized through alliances, while rights to others were later sold or transferred. For example, Crestor marketing rights were sold to AstraZeneca in 1998, and Osphena rights were sold to Duchesnay in 2017. Infectious disease remained a central part of the company’s modern strategy. Shionogi developed Xofluza, an influenza treatment using an endonuclease-inhibition mechanism, and ensitrelvir, described as the first domestically developed Japanese oral pill for COVID-19 treatment. The company continued to pursue anti-infective research through external transactions as well as internal programs. Its announced 2023 acquisition of Qpex Biopharma for approximately US$140 million was intended to strengthen the company’s position in anti-infective drug discovery. Shionogi has also maintained a presence in areas beyond infectious disease. In 2024, it announced an agreement with Cilcare concerning rights to CIL001 and CIL003, two candidates associated with hearing-loss treatment. This activity reflects a broader specialty-medicine and pipeline strategy rather than a single-product focus. The SHIONOGI identity has long been visible outside clinical settings in Japan. The company and later Shionogi Healthcare sponsored Fuji Television’s Music Fair from the program’s start in 1964. In January 2025, Shionogi withdrew its name from the program following the Fuji TV–Masahiro Nakai scandal, while requesting a clear explanation from the broadcaster. The episode demonstrated the reputational considerations involved in long-running corporate sponsorships. Shionogi is listed on Japan’s stock market under ticker 4507.T and has been included in the Nikkei 225. Its history therefore combines a long-established Japanese pharmaceutical base, a strong domestic antimicrobial identity, international licensing and ownership relationships, and a continuing effort to build differentiated medicines in infectious disease and other specialty fields.
- 2025
Music Fair naming sponsorship withdrawn
[1]Shionogi decided to remove its name from Music Fair after the Fuji TV–Masahiro Nakai scandal.
- 2024
Cilcare rights agreement
[1]Shionogi and Cilcare announced an agreement covering rights to CIL001 and CIL003, candidates for hearing-loss treatment.
- 2023
Qpex Biopharma acquisition announced
[1]Shionogi announced the acquisition of Qpex Biopharma for approximately US$140 million.
- 2017
Osphena rights transferred
[1]Rights related to Osphena were sold to Duchesnay.
- 2012
Partial ownership of ViiV Healthcare
[1]Shionogi became a partial owner of ViiV Healthcare, a company focused on HIV therapies.
- 2009
Schering-Plough becomes part of Merck
[1]Schering-Plough, a former Shionogi partner, merged with Merck & Co.
- 1998
Crestor rights transferred
[1]Shionogi sold marketing rights for Crestor to AstraZeneca.
- 1991
Team Lotus sponsorship period begins
[1]Shionogi became a main sponsor of Team Lotus during the team’s final years.
- 1964
Music Fair sponsorship begins
[1]Shionogi began sponsoring Fuji Television’s Music Fair at the program’s launch.
- 1919
Corporate incorporation
[1]Shionogi & Company was incorporated as a pharmaceutical company.
Products and positioning
A research-led, mid-to-high-end pharmaceutical brand emphasizing infectious diseases, antimicrobial innovation, specialty medicines, and strategic global partnerships.
Influenza antiviral
Xofluza
Xofluza is an oral influenza treatment associated with Shionogi and based on inhibition of an endonuclease involved in viral replication. It is one of the company’s most prominent modern anti-infective products and reflects its focus on developing medicines with mechanisms distinct from conventional antiviral approaches.
COVID-19 antiviral
Ensitrelvir
Ensitrelvir is an orally administered COVID-19 treatment developed in Japan. It is associated with Shionogi’s effort to apply its infectious-disease expertise to a major emerging viral disease and has been described as the first domestically developed Japanese oral pill for COVID-19 treatment.
Gastrointestinal supportive care
Symproic
Symproic is a mu-opioid receptor antagonist used to treat opioid-induced constipation. The medicine represents Shionogi’s expansion beyond anti-infectives into supportive care associated with opioid therapy and chronic treatment management.
Lipid-lowering medicine
Crestor
Crestor is a cholesterol-lowering medicine for hyperlipidaemia. It is one of the best-known products developed by Shionogi, although the company sold its marketing rights to AstraZeneca in 1998.
Antibacterial medicine
Avelox
Avelox is an antibacterial medicine used for a range of infections. It is among the anti-infective products associated with Shionogi’s Japanese commercial portfolio and its collaboration with Schering-Plough.
Antihistamine
Claritin
Claritin is an antihistamine marketed in Japan through an alliance involving Shionogi and Schering-Plough. It illustrates the company’s use of regional partnerships to commercialize medicines outside its core internally developed portfolio.
Hematology medicine
Mulpleta
Mulpleta is a thrombopoietin receptor agonist associated with treatment intended to support platelet production. It represents Shionogi’s presence in specialty hematology in addition to infectious-disease therapies.
Antidepressant
Cymbalta
Cymbalta is a serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor antidepressant marketed through an alliance with Eli Lilly. The product is part of the company’s history of regional commercialization partnerships.
Dermatology medicine
Differin
Differin is a topical retinoid for acne developed by Galderma and marketed in Japan through an arrangement involving Shionogi. It shows the company’s participation in dermatology through licensing and local commercialization.
Selective estrogen receptor medicine
Osphena
Osphena is an estrogen receptor agonist associated with specialty women’s-health treatment. Shionogi held relevant marketing rights before selling them to Duchesnay in 2017.
Hearing-loss drug candidates
CIL001 and CIL003
CIL001 and CIL003 are drug candidates associated with Cilcare’s hearing-loss research. Under a 2024 agreement, Shionogi obtained rights related to the two candidates.
Investigational anti-inflammatory medicine
Asapiprant
Asapiprant, also identified as BGE-175, is a DP1 receptor antagonist under development for potential use in elderly patients with COVID-19 and in allergic rhinitis. The reference material identifies it as an investigational program rather than a marketed product.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 1991Team Lotus sponsorship
International motorsport
Shionogi served as a main sponsor of Team Lotus during the team’s final years, from 1991 through 1994.
Outcome. The sponsorship ended after the 1991–1994 period.
- 1964Music Fair sponsorship
Japan
Shionogi began sponsoring Fuji Television’s Music Fair when the program launched and maintained the association for decades, later through Shionogi Healthcare. The sponsorship connected the pharmaceutical name with one of Japan’s long-running music television programs.
Outcome. The naming sponsorship continued until Shionogi withdrew its name in 2025.
Brand decisions
2025
Withdrawal of Music Fair naming sponsorshipStrategyBackground
The decision followed the Fuji TV–Masahiro Nakai scandal and concerns about the broadcaster’s handling and explanation of the matter.
Action taken
Shionogi decided to remove its name from Music Fair while asking Fuji Television to explain the facts and its future actions.
Aftermath
The company ended its visible naming association with the program after a sponsorship relationship dating back to 1964.
2024
Rights agreement with CilcareOtherBackground
Cilcare was developing CIL001 and CIL003 as candidates for hearing-loss treatment.
Action taken
Shionogi entered an agreement giving it rights related to the two candidates.
Aftermath
The agreement added hearing-loss research to Shionogi’s specialty pipeline.
2023
Acquisition of Qpex BiopharmaM&ABackground
Shionogi sought to strengthen its anti-infective research capabilities amid the continuing scientific and commercial challenges surrounding infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.
Action taken
Shionogi announced the acquisition of Qpex Biopharma.
Aftermath
The transaction expanded Shionogi’s anti-infective development platform and international biotechnology footprint.
Approximate acquisition value. US$140 million (Announced June 2023)
2017
Transfer of Osphena rights to DuchesnayM&ABackground
Osphena was an estrogen receptor agonist in Shionogi’s specialty-medicine portfolio.
Action taken
Shionogi sold rights related to Osphena to Duchesnay.
Aftermath
Commercial rights moved to Duchesnay, demonstrating Shionogi’s willingness to reshape its portfolio through rights transactions.
1998
Sale of Crestor marketing rightsM&ABackground
Shionogi had developed Crestor, a cholesterol medicine, but the product’s marketing rights were subsequently transferred to AstraZeneca.
Action taken
Shionogi sold the marketing rights for Crestor to AstraZeneca.
Aftermath
Crestor became associated with AstraZeneca’s commercial portfolio rather than remaining solely under Shionogi’s marketing control.
Recent events
- 2024
Shionogi and Cilcare agree rights arrangement for hearing-loss candidates[1]
M&A · Other
Shionogi and Cilcare announced an agreement under which Shionogi obtained rights related to two drug candidates, CIL001 and CIL003, for hearing-loss treatments.
- 2023
Shionogi announces acquisition of Qpex Biopharma[1]
M&A
Shionogi announced an acquisition of Qpex Biopharma for approximately US$140 million, expanding its anti-infective research and development activities.
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