OTSUKA IN THE PHILIPPINES

With the well-being of the Filipinos in mind, OPPI was established in 1997 under the leadership of Yoshinobu Nishida. It began with a team of 65 employees most of whom were Medical Representatives deployed nationwide. OPPI’s leadership was passed on to the able leadership of Tetsusaburo Hori in 2001, followed by the appointment of Hirofume Inoue in 2002, and in 2007, OPPI welcomed its first Filipino president, Leopoldo Dimerin. In 2016, the helm of OPPI’s leadership was handed over to Ken Saito.

Over the years, OPPI produced a host of innovative products to the local market. Among its first were Pletaal (Cilostazol), an anti-platelet drug, Meptin (Procaterol) a potent bronchodilator, Aminoleban, a BCAA-enriched parenteral and enteral solution, and Mikelan (Carteolol HCI), an anti-hypertensive drug. These products achieved substantial growth despite the economic and political crisis in the country in the late 90s. In 2003, OPPI launched its cytoprotective agent, Mucosta (Rebamipide) and in 2004, its more palatable amino acid nutritional supplement, Aminoleban Oral. In 2005 it launched its blockbuster anti-psychotic drug, Abilify (Aripiprazole) and in 2006, its cost effective rapamycin drug eluting stent, Firebird. In 2007, OPPI ventured into the consumer market introducing Pocari Sweat which later on spin-off to form its own company, OSPI. OPPI is continuously growing. Lorelco (Probucol), an anti-hyperlipedemic drug was officially launched in 2010. The following year, OPPI launched Hercules, an aortic endovascular stent graft system. Another important milestone for the company was the launch of Samsca (Tolvaptan), the world’s first oral aquaretic agent in 2014. This was followed by Firehawk in 2015, a target eluting coronary stent. The recent entries to the growing product portfolio of OPPI were in the field of Clinical Nutrition which include Neoparen No. 2 Injection (Carbohydrate, Electrolyte, Amino Acid and Multivitamin) and Bfluid Injection (Water, Electrolytes, Calories, Amino Acid and Vitamins).

OPPI is inspired by its parent company’s global commitment to the research and development of life enhancing and life-saving products.

In addition to cutting edge products, the success of OPPI in providing effective healthcare is also attributed in many ways to the partnership it forges with specialists, general practitioners and distinguished medical societies. These partnerships are founded on the common goal to continuously improve patient care further strengthened through CME programs aligned with the benefits that Otsuka products offer.

Unstoppable in its commitment to care for the Filipinos, OPPI likewise offers patient care programs that benefit both patient and their families providing them better access to information in disease management.

To OPPI however, success is never just about driving its pharmaceutical and consumer products to recognition, it is also about doing its share in corporate social responsibility, giving back to the community in ways that cannot be qualified. Otsuka Cares was launched with the aim to uplift the Filipino quality of life.

Now, on its twentieth year, the successful journey of OPPI continues to make an impact in the field of healthcare.