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The Otsuka group of companies in Spain hosted commemorative events in Madrid and Barcelona to celebrate its market entry in Spain 40 years ago, and subsequent long-standing commitment there since the establishment in 1979 of an office in Madrid. Shortly thereafter, the former Miquel Laboratories in Barcelona was acquired by Otsuka.
The 40th anniversary celebrations were an opportunity for the four Otsuka group companies in Spain to present themselves inclusively and simultaneously to national and regional authorities, opinion leaders, customers, and other stakeholders. The four group companies with a presence in Spain are Otsuka Pharmaceutical S.A. (prescription drugs), Hebron S.A. (coatings, polymers, inks and adhesives), Trocellen Ibérica (polyethelyne foams), and Nutrition & Santé (dietetic and organic foods).
More than 150 people participated in the events in Madrid and Barcelona on November 14 and 15, respectively. Numerous personalities from the government sector, the business world, the health sector and the Japanese Embassy in Madrid and Consulate in Barcelona took part.
At the ceremonies, Otsuka Pharmaceutical S.A. Managing Director Concha Caudevilla and Hebron SA Managing Director Marc Monnin said they felt proud of their companies' successes, which have contributed to improve the quality of life of the Spanish citizenry and to the sustainability of employment and the economy.
Currently, Otsuka group companies have more than 600 employees in Spain and four plants. Export activity represents 15% of total consolidated net sales.
Mr. Andy Page, (interim) president and CEO of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe, Ltd., stressed the importance of trust in long-term relationships as a key success factor.
Francesc Miralles, the award-winning Spanish author, who co-authored the bestseller Ikigai: The Secrets of Japan for a Long and Happy Life, explained to attendees the meaning of the word ikigai and shared points from the book. He noted, "Identifying the ikigai brings passion, satisfaction and happiness to the life of the individual." He also referred to the Japanese concept ichi-go ichi-e, which literally translates as "one time, one meeting", the concept of the unrepeatable and therefore cherishable nature of a moment.
The events were a splendid culmination of the 40-year commitment to Spain by the Otsuka group of companies.
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A pressing concern for Japan is the need to reduce the amount of money the government has to spend on medical costs. One way that this can be done is to help people maintain good health after retirement. To support this goal, Otsuka has been working together with local governments, firms, and organizations across Japan to help keep people fit and healthy, with a particular focus upon specific regional problems.
In July of 2019, Otsuka joined forces with the city of Mima in Tokushima Prefecture and the pro soccer team from the area, Tokushima Vortis, to run the first Vortis Conditioning Program. The aim of this is to help citizens establish new exercise habits so as to improve their motor function, and through this reduce the likelihood of their requiring treatment in the future. By doing so, care costs can be reduced, relieving some of the financial burden on society.
This initiative made use of a Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry supported social impact bond (SIB) framework. SIBs are outcome-based contracts where private funds are used for initiatives that address social challenges, and governmental departments then later reimburse or subsidize the costs according to the program’s level of success. This project is particularly exciting as it is the first SIB in a healthcare field involving a pro soccer team.
A total of 1,800 members of the public will participate in the program over the next five years. Participants will attend weekly group training sessions with Tokushima Vortis coaches for eight weeks, as well as exercising at home at least once a week. The program will introduce the participants to a new exercise routine, and all daily physical activities will be tracked using a wearable device. The hope is that the program will help alleviate physical problems often suffered, such as those related to the hips, joints, and overall posture. After training, participants will be given a pack of Bodymainté Jelly, a lactic acid and protein supplement to support good physical condition, and receive useful nutritional information from a registered dietitian.
Participants in the first course commented that they were able to complete the exercises in about 30 minutes in their own homes, making it very easy to do. They also felt that the program had helped improve their physical condition, including their posture and problems such as stiff shoulders.
Otsuka firmly believes that good health requires attention to body, mind, and relationships with other people, and we are committed to helping nurture a healthy society by taking a holistic approach at a community level. We will continue to provide a wide range of opportunities to help people improve their well-being today, and through this contribute to the long-term health and happiness of society as a whole.
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In recent years a lot of attention has been given to sleep, an essential part of our daily cycle, which accounts for approximately one-third of our lifetimes. World Sleep Day, organized by the World Association of Sleep Medicine, is held every March to highlight the importance of sleep for a healthy life and raise awareness of the impacts of sleep disorders. In Japan there is an additional day focused on sleep, with Autumn Sleep Day held every September 3rd. These two events are part of a non-continuous period called Sleep Health Week. In support of this Otsuka Pharmaceutical organizes information sessions and shares information on our website explaining the importance of internal bodily rhythms.
We know that a healthy sleep pattern is essential to feeling refreshed and having a fulfilling day, but despite this many people do not get enough sleep. There are many factors that contribute to sleep problems, such as anxiety and stress. However, recently more attention has been paid to the disruption of internal bodily rhythms.
Although we use a 24-hour cycle to measure time daily, our internal body clock cycle is actually a little longer than 24 hours. We usually reset this difference by getting some morning sunlight or by having breakfast. However, due to our modern lifestyles and an always-on society there is an increased risk for a more significant gap to develop between our internal clock and our daily routine, which can lead to an irregular sleep pattern.
A common example of this would be sleeping in on a day off to make up for a lack of sleep in the week leading up to it. However, doing this can then lead to difficulties in falling asleep the following night or waking up at the right time in the morning. This pattern of having different sleep patterns on weekdays and at the weekends causes what is known as social jet lag, with research showing that our internal body clock can be shifted by 30-45 minutes just by sleeping in on two days. Also, once the rhythm has been disrupted, it is not easy to restore it, and daytime performance may be affected due to feelings of exhaustion. The key to developing a sleep pattern that supports both mental and physical health is to take care of your internal bodily rhythms and manage the quantity and quality of your sleep.
Although the Japanese population enjoys a long, healthy life expectancy, the average time spent sleeping is extremely short compared to other countries. Furthermore, there is reportedly a substantial economic loss associated with not getting enough sleep.
To help people live active daily lives, in 2017, Otsuka developed Kenja-no-kaimin Sleep Rhythm Support (The Wise Man's Sleep Solution), to support the maintenance of bodily rhythms that improve the quality of sleep and help people wake up feeling refreshed and energized. The product was submitted to the Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan for labelling as Foods with Function Claims.
Otsuka will continue to share the latest knowledge and accurate information related to sleep, while working to create original products rooted in science to further support healthy lifestyles.
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In June 2019, Japan hosted its first G20 summit in Osaka, with a focus on the international issue of plastic waste pollution in the oceans. There, the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" plan was agreed upon, which aims to reduce ocean waste to zero by 2050.
In the run-up to the summit, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment and the Nippon Foundation began a nationwide cleanup campaign named "Zero Ocean Refuse Week” which ran from May 30 to June 8, and in which Otsuka group employees played an active role.
The Otsuka Pharmaceutical Environmental Club, a volunteer group of Otsuka employees, collaborated with the local council to carry out cleaning activities at Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, the location where the Otsuka company was founded. Around 150 people gathered, including employees from 15 group companies and family members, farexceeding the number that participated in previous years. Together they collected 300 bags of garbage, weighing a total of approximately 1.5 tons.
Materials and posters relating to the problem of the circulation of discarded plastic waste were displayed at the venue to turnit into a hub for learning about the environment. One employee commented, "I usually only pay attention to large refuse, but if you look carefully there is a lot of small plastic waste reaching the ocean too. My awareness of ocean plastic has changed a lot."
A ten-year-old child of an Otsuka employee said, "There were so many types of rubbish on the beach, and it felt great to help make it clean again!"
A teenage participant commented, "There’s not so much I can do by myself, but I want to do my best to help, so I hope I can participate in an event like this again."
Additionally, many employees participated in the coastal cleanup event held by the Japan Soft Drink Association, of which Otsuka Pharmaceutical is a partner. Approximately 130 people from soft drink manufacturing companies, including executives from their headquarters took part.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical will continue to work on integrating environmental management into its business practices in order to help realize a sustainable future for all.
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https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/global-topics/2019/20190502_vol109.html
Otsuka received the 2019 Corporate Innovator Award from the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) at the NKF 2019 Spring Clinical Meetings in Boston during May.
The Corporate Innovator Award was established to recognize companies that advance the field of nephrology by addressing an unmet medical need, or improving upon an existing practice, therapeutic or technology. Otsuka Pharmaceutical received this award in recognition for its work in bringing JYNARQUETM (tolvaptan) to market.
Kevin Longino, the CEO of National Kidney Foundation who is also a kidney transplant recipient, noted, “The Corporate Innovator Award recognizes Otsuka’s significant contribution to improving the lives of people with ADPKD and we congratulate them on this achievement.”
The award was accepted on behalf of Otsuka by Louis Allesandrine, Vice President, Oncology and Nephrology Sales and Marketing at Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, Inc. He commented during the award presentation, “It is an honor and a privilege to accept this award on the behalf of the many people who made this possible, including patients, families, researchers, nephrologists, and Otsuka.”
In April 2018, JYNARQUETM was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as the first treatment to slow kidney function decline in adults at risk of rapidly progressing autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Earlier, the drug was approved for use in the EU, Japan and several other countries.
The National Kidney Foundation is the largest, most comprehensive and longstanding organization in the U.S. dedicated to the awareness, prevention and treatment of kidney disease.