What kind of company is Chugai?

Chugai’s features and strengths are presented in six Q&As.

Q1What kind of drugs does Chugai deal with?

We specialize in prescription drugs and deliver innovative pharmaceuticals to patients around the world.

Prescription drugs are drugs prescribed by a physician or administered based on a physician’s prescription. Therefore, these products are not seen on store shelves. In 2004, Chugai divested its over-the-counter (OTC) drug business, which included energy drinks and insecticides. Since then, we have focused on the prescription drugs business, which includes the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of prescription drugs.

In Japan, oncology products account for 52.2% of sales. Drugs in areas besides oncology, such as bone and joint diseases, autoimmune diseases, renal and neurological diseases, and hemophilia, are marketed in Japan as specialty areas.

As a research and development-oriented pharmaceutical company, we are developing innovative new medicines for diseases for which effective treatments have not yet been established, thereby addressing unmet medical needs.

  • 2025 Revenue Composition by Product (Japan)

    Percentage of Domestic Sales. Domestic Sales by Area (2025) 472.4 billion. Oncology 52.2%, Specialty *1 (Bone and joint, autoimmune diseases, renal and neurological diseases, and other areas) 47.8%

    *1 Bone and joint, autoimmune diseases, renal and neurological diseases, and other areas

  • Number of Countries with Global Approval for Chugai Proprietary Products

    More than 110countries*2

    *2 Proprietary products researched and developed in Japan have been approved in more than 110 countries. (As of February 28, 2025)

Q2What are Chugai’s strengths in drug discovery?

As a pioneer in the discovery of Japan’s first developed antibody drug, we have an edge in biotechnology and are also focusing on research and development of macrocyclic peptide drugs as a new modality.

Since the 1980s, Chugai has been involved in the discovery of biopharmaceuticals. This experience has led to the creation of antibody drugs and the development of proprietary technologies. One type of biopharmaceutical, antibody drugs are expected to offer high therapeutic efficacy and reduced side effects by precisely targeting specific cells and molecules. In 2005, Chugai successfully launched the first antibody drug produced in Japan. We have the No. 1 market share in Japan for antibody drugs.*1 Since then, we have delivered innovative drugs to the world, and our in-house products have received the U.S. Breakthrough Therapy *2 designation nine times.

Following antibody drugs and small molecule drugs, we are focusing on research and development of macrocyclic peptide drugs as the third drug discovery modality (classification of therapeutic approaches).

A drug discovery modality refers to a method of approach for creating drugs. Macrocyclic peptide are compounds that fall between small molecules and antibodies (macromolecules). They are characterized by their high specificity for binding to disease target molecules, and their abilities to bind to intracellular targets and be administered orally. Macrocyclic peptide drugs are expected to be a drug discovery modality that combines the advantages of small molecules and antibody drugs.

Market share of antibody drug sales in Japan*1

No. 1

*1 Copyright © 2026 IQVIA. Calculated based on JPM 2025. Reprinted with permission. The scope of the market is defined by Chugai.

Breakthrough Therapy designations*2

9times

*2 Six proprietary drugs developed through our domestic research and development have been designated as Breakthrough Therapies by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) a total of nine times. (Cumulative as of February 28, 2025)

Chugai Life Science Park Yokohama began operations as a hub for drug discovery research in 2023. We strive to accelerate Chugai’s unique drug discovery engine through activities at both domestic and overseas research hubs and by promoting open innovation.

Research and Development

To continuously create innovative pharmaceuticals that address unmet medical needs where effective treatments are still lacking, and contribute to global healthcare and the well-being of people. That is Chugai’s mission in R&D.

Open Innovation

While leveraging the R&D strengths of our strategic alliance with Roche, we aim to create and accelerate the creation of innovative drugs through active collaboration with external parties, including academia and start-up companies.

Q3Is Chugai an independent company?

In 2002, Chugai entered into a strategic alliance with Swiss company Roche.

Although Roche holds a majority stake of 59.89%, Chugai remains a listed company in Japan and continues to operate independently.

This strategic alliance has enabled the Roche Group to exclusively market their breakthrough medicines in Japan, particularly anticancer drugs, as well as strengthening the global development of Chugai’s own products.

About Roche

Established in 1896 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is the No. 1 pharmaceutical company in the world by revenue, with business operations in more than 150 countries. The Roche Group contributes to medicine through its two business segments of pharmaceuticals and diagnostics.

  • Advantage＃1

    Exclusive marketing of Roche products in Japan

  • Advandate#2

    Global development of Chugai products

This unique business model has enabled Chugai to establish a stable revenue base and concentrate investment in more innovative technologies and drug discovery.

2025 Revenues
(compared to before the alliance with Roche in 2002)

7.6times more

2025 Operating profit
(compared to before the alliance with Roche in 2002)

23.3times more

For more information, click here

Strategic Alliance with Roche

Overview of Roche, details of the strategic alliance between Chugai and Roche, and the advantages for both companies.

Q4What about Chugai’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies?

We are promoting digital transformation (DX) and working to improve productivity and create value through the use of AI and other digital technologies.

In promoting company-wide DX, we have formulated the “CHUGAI DIGITAL VISION 2030.” We aim to continuously deliver innovative pharmaceutical products through the use of digital technology and to improve productivity across the entire value chain, from research and development to production and sales.

  • CHUGAI DIGITAL ACADEMY

    A system developed to systematically train internal digital talent such as data scientists. We support the application of knowledge to real-world tasks through comprehensive lectures and on-the-job training (OJT).

  • Chugai Cloud Infrastructure (CCI)

    CCI is Chugai’s company-wide digital IT platform. It provides enhanced security governance and efficient integrated operations management in a multi-cloud environment.

  • Smart Factory

    We aim to achieve a smart factory that links and optimizes data between people and operations in the production of pharmaceuticals in factories.

  • AI Drug Discovery

    We utilize AI to target molecules in drug development and to design molecules for antibody drugs and other drug discovery modalities. Our goal is to improve the success rate of drug development and the efficiency of the drug discovery process.

Digital Transformation Stock (DX Stock)

The DX Stock program recognizes companies listed on the TSE that have established internal frameworks to promote DX linked to the enhancement of corporate value and have demonstrated outstanding digital utilization, with selections made for each industry sector.
Chugai was recognized for its alignment of management vision with DX strategy, company-wide talent development and transformation, and proactive external communication, as well as its practical initiatives toward delivering new value, including across-all-fronts AI utilization by all employees, transformation of clinical development, and the deployment of personalized healthcare (PHC) solutions.

Chugai has been selected for four consecutive years since 2020, and following its designation as a “DX Platinum Enterprise 2023-2025,” it has been continuously selected for seven consecutive years since the inception of the program through this year.

To learn more

Digital transformation

We provide healthcare solutions that transform society by combining our proprietary science and technological capabilities, including biotechnology that we have cultivated, with cutting-edge digital technology.

Q5What kinds of people work for Chugai?

Chugai has a diverse workforce. We aim to foster an organizational culture that creates continuous innovation, and we have developed and are promoting a talent management policy to support this goal.

  1. *1 Consolidated, as of December 31, 2025
  2. *2 Managers with subordinates, based on employees of the domestic Chugai Pharmaceutical Group in 2025 (as of December 31, 2025)
  3. *3 Based on standalone employees in 2025 (as of December 31, 2025)
  4. *4 Based on non-consolidated financial reports for 2025 (as of December 31, 2025)
  5. *5 Cumulative since 2004 through 2025

To learn more

Stories

Toward the creation of continuous innovation. The Story of Our Challenges
We want to bring happiness to our patients. Here are the thoughts of these employees and the stories of their challenges.

Talent Management

The source of innovation is, without a doubt, people. Through the continuous creation of innovation, we aim to provide new value to patients. Here we present our HR strategies and initiatives that facilitate employee success and enable employees to thrive, along with the outcomes of these efforts.

DE&I Vision and Performance

Based on its business philosophy, “Innovation all for the patients,” Chugai works with Roche as it seeks to become a leading innovator in the health care industry, achieving advanced patient-centric, sustainable medical care centered around its own scientific and technological capabilities.

Q6What are Chugai’s social and environmental initiatives?

We will work together with various stakeholders to address healthcare challenges and protect the global environment.

Chugai aims to solve social issues through its business activities and develop together with society and local communities. Our sustainability initiatives, which create shared value with society, have garnered strong support from our stakeholders.

We engage in activities that consider CO2 emissions and procure electricity with a focus on preserving the global environment.

Sustainable Electricity Ratio
Chugai Group Offices

100%*1

*1 Actual results in 2025

Climate Change Countermeasures
(global warming prevention)
CO2 emissions (Scope 1 + Scope 2*2)

40%
reduction*3

  • *2 Scope 1: Direct emissions from energy, Scope 2: Indirect emissions from energy
  • *3 Results in 2025 compared to 2019

We aim to provide advanced patient-centric solutions.

We have established a system to provide solutions that carefully address the diverse needs of healthcare professionals in each area. We are committed to promoting multidisciplinary team care and regional healthcare coordination through various initiatives such as providing information, hosting study sessions, and conducting awareness activities in collaboration with government authorities. Additionally, we promote the proper use of pharmaceuticals and have established an industry-leading pharmacovigilance management system to ensure their safe use in clinical settings. We collect, evaluate, and provide drug safety information to support this effort.

Satisfaction of healthcare professionals

(Corporate Comprehensive Evaluation)

No.1*1

*1 INTAGE Healthcare “Rep-i August 2025 Survey” (reprint prohibited); based on survey results for an overall company assessment targeting only physicians according to Chugai’s definition

Satisfaction of healthcare professionals

(Drug safety information provision)

No.1
in Japan*2

*2 INTAGE Healthcare “2025 Drug Safety Information Needs Assessment Survey” (reprint prohibited); based on the total results of all respondents

The results of our activities have been evaluated by external evaluation organizations.

Learn more about external evaluations here

To learn more

Commitment to Sustainability: Advanced and sustainable patient-centric healthcare

Chugai Pharmaceutical places patients at the center of all its corporate activities and strives to maximize the value provided to patients. This section presents an overall picture of Chugai’s patient-centric approach and its major initiatives.

Sustainability Initiatives: Global Environmental Conservation

We have set environmental goals based on the global environmental consensus and are promoting energy consumption reduction and the introduction of environmentally friendly equipment to combat global warming. We are working toward zero waste emissions through reuse and recycling, as well as biodiversity conservation by managing hazardous chemicals and designing appropriate manufacturing processes.

Sustainability Initiatives: Social Contributions

Chugai views social contribution activities as efforts to address societal challenges as a member of society, investing resources and expertise without expecting direct compensation, thereby contributing to problem-solving. We actively promote social contribution activities while maintaining close ties with society. Furthermore, we encourage and support activities carried out by our employees. Chugai is committed to appropriately disclose information about our social contribution activities to its stakeholders.

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