Long-term commitment to improving R&D to provide novel treatments for infectious diseases

Shionogi’s involvement in the field of infectious diseases essentially began when we began importing streptomycin in the years following World War II. Subsequently, we commenced sales of Ilotycin (licensed in from Eli Lilly) in 1952, and in 1959 we launched the long-acting sulfonamide Shinomin, the first proprietary product to come out of our research. The drug was out-licensed to Roche, helping to treat patients with infectious diseases worldwide. We also released the sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim combination Baktar, which is still widely used by patients worldwide. Shionogi launched the world’s first siderophore cephalosporin antibiotic Fetroja (cefiderocol) in Europe and the U.S. starting in 2020, contributing to AMR countermeasures and the sustainability of healthcare systems through inclusion in the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines and application of a pull incentive system.

At Shionogi, we also have spent more than 25 years conducting our own surveillance for resistant bacteria, and the data thus obtained is proving invaluable in promoting antimicrobial stewardship and AMR countermeasures.

Shionogi’s efforts to combat AMR also have been recognized externally. In a recent Antimicrobial Resistance Benchmark 2018 survey, Shionogi was the only Japanese pharmaceutical company to qualify for inclusion, and was recognized along with the seven other large research-based pharmaceutical companies. Especially, Shionogi was highly recognized in the survey as having the highest annual ratio of investment in R&D for anti-infectives of any of the companies surveyed (based on investment as a proportion of net sales). 

Shionogi is also active in the field of antiviral treatments. Over the years we have released a number of innovative anti-infectives including the anti-HIV agent Tivicay and related pipeline drugs, and the flu drug Xofluza.

In recent times, in order to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 which continues to have a significant impact on the world, we are focusing our efforts on various initiatives related to infectious diseases, such as research and development of therapeutic drugs, epidemic forecasting, prevention, diagnosis, and exacerbation/aftereffect suppression, aiming to provide total care for infectious diseases, as a leading company in infectious diseases.