- Business
- Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited is a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, founded in 2005 through the merger of Daiichi Pharmaceutical and Sankyo Company. It operates primarily in the pharmaceutical industry with a strong focus on oncology, cardiovascular, and rare diseases. Its core products include oncology therapies such as Enhertu (an antibody-drug conjugate for breast cancer and other cancers), Datopotamab Deruxtecan (Datroway) targeting solid tumors, cardiovascular drugs, and a portfolio of small molecule and biologic medicines. Daiichi Sankyo develops and markets prescription pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and drug discovery platforms, including proprietary DXd technology for antibody-drug conjugates.
In recent years, Daiichi Sankyo has made strategic advances with significant partnerships and acquisitions to strengthen its oncology pipeline and global presence. Notably, it expanded its pipeline through the acquisition of solid tumor ADC assets from Glycotope for $132.5 million and entered a $22 billion strategic alliance with Merck to develop ADC therapies targeting multiple cancer antigens. The company also launched new vaccine offerings in Japan including DAICHIRONA mRNA COVID-19 vaccine and an influenza vaccine FluMist. In 2025, Daiichi Sankyo initiated several clinical trials including the IDeate-Prostate02 trial for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer and DESTINY-Lung06 phase 3 trial for HER2 overexpressing non-small cell lung cancer. It established Daiichi Sankyo Vietnam to broaden its operational footprint in Asia. Daiichi Sankyo continues to focus on digital transformation and agile management to enhance innovation and operational efficiency.
The company operates globally with significant markets in Japan, the United States, Europe, and Asia. Its portfolio includes cardiovascular products, oncology drugs, vaccines, and rare disease treatments, serving healthcare providers, hospitals, and patients worldwide. Daiichi Sankyo holds a competitive position as the second-largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and emphasizes oncology as a strategic growth pillar under its 2025 Vision to become a global pharma innovator.
Overall, Daiichi Sankyo combines a comprehensive range of pharmaceutical products with an evolving pipeline driven by advanced antibody-drug conjugate technologies, recent strategic partnerships with industry leaders, and expansion in emerging markets. Its headquarters remain in Tokyo, Japan, with a broad global operational network supporting its innovation-driven healthcare mission.