Princeton, N.J. and Aliso Viejo, C.A., October 21, 2022 – Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI), announces that it will integrate Avanir Pharmaceuticals into its business as of January 1, 2023. The move brings together the knowledge, capabilities and best practices of both companies to further advance solutions to treat central nervous system (CNS) disorders. Avanir and OAPI are both subsidiaries of OAI, a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global healthcare company.

“I’m extremely proud to have led this extraordinary team of dedicated employees over the past five years,” said Wa’el Hashad, president and chief executive officer, Avanir Pharmaceuticals. “Avanir’s spirit of innovation and excellence will live on at Otsuka and ensure the continued innovation that will bring hope to patients and families.”

“Avanir and Otsuka have always shared a deep commitment to advancing solutions that improve the lives of patients and their caregivers. We welcome every new employee to the Otsuka family and know each will continue to make an impact on the communities we serve,” said Tarek Rabah, president and CEO, Otsuka North America Pharmaceutical Business (OAPI). “This integration will bring greater opportunities to develop treatments for those impacted by CNS disorders.”

Founded in 1988 as Lidak Pharmaceuticals, the company became Avanir Pharmaceuticals in 1998 and launched their flagship product, Nuedexta (dextromethorphan hydrobromide and quinidine sulfate). Acquired by Otsuka in 2015, Avanir has been at the forefront of developing and delivering groundbreaking pharmaceutical treatments for people with CNS conditions.

 

About Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a pharmaceutical company committed to delivering innovative central nervous system (CNS) solutions to improve the lives of patients and their care communities. For more information about Avanir, visit https://www.avanir.com.

Avanir is a subsidiary of Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI), a holding company established in the U.S. in 1989. OAI is wholly owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy, “Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide."

 

About Otsuka

Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Otsuka researches, develops, manufactures, and markets innovative products, with a focus on pharmaceutical products to meet unmet medical needs and nutraceutical products for the maintenance of everyday health.

In pharmaceuticals, Otsuka is a leader in the challenging areas of mental, renal, and cardiovascular health and has additional research programs in oncology and on several under-addressed diseases including tuberculosis, a significant global public health issue. These commitments illustrate how Otsuka is a “big venture” company at heart, applying a youthful spirit of creativity in everything it does.

Otsuka established a presence in the U.S. in 1973 and today its U.S. affiliates include Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. (OPDC) and Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. (OAPI). These two companies’ 2,000 employees in the U.S. develop and commercialize medicines in the areas of mental health, nephrology, and cardiology, using cutting-edge technology to address unmet healthcare needs.

OPDC and OAPI are indirect subsidiaries of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd. headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The Otsuka group of companies employed 47,000 people worldwide and had consolidated sales of approximately USD 13.6 billion in 2021.

All Otsuka stories start by taking the road less traveled. Learn more about Otsuka in the U.S. at www.otsuka-us.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter at @OtsukaUS. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.’s global website is accessible at www.otsuka.co.jp/en.

About Otsuka America, Inc.

Otsuka America, Inc. (OAI) is a holdings company made up of more than two dozen group companies that offer innovative products in the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and consumer markets. The pharmaceutical business develops and markets products for the diagnosis and treatment of disease in the following areas: central nervous system, oncology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and the cardiovascular system. The nutraceuticals business is dedicated to maintaining and improving health through quality vitamins, minerals, and supplements to provide complete nutrition. The consumer business is dedicated to bringing the world’s most pure and refreshing water, as well as the most flavorful wines, to the market.

Otsuka Contact for Media

Otsuka in the U.S.

Robert Murphy
Corporate Communications
Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc.
robert.murphy@otsuka-us.com
+1 609 249 7262

Otsuka in Japan

Jeffrey Gilbert 
Leader, Pharmaceutical PR  
Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Co., Ltd.
gilbert.jeffrey.a@otsuka.co.jp
+81 3 6361 7379

               

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