Early years and founding

Santen traces its origins to 1890, when Kenkichi Taguchi opened a pharmacy named Taguchi Santendo in Kitahama, Osaka.1 Early products were not exclusively ophthalmic; one of the primary offerings was a cold medicine called Heburin-gan. The eventual specialization in eye health developed because eye diseases were widespread in Japan during the late 19th century, creating significant demand for ophthalmic products.

In 1899, Santen launched Daigaku Eye Drops, its first eye-care product.1 This launch established the company’s long-term connection with ophthalmology, marking the beginning of an ophthalmic heritage that spans more than 125 years.

Incorporation and post-war shift

The business was incorporated as Santendo Co., Ltd. in 1925, with Chuko Mita serving as its first president.1 At this stage, the company still manufactured and sold various pharmaceutical products rather than focusing exclusively on ophthalmology. Following the Second World War, Santen increasingly concentrated its business on eye drops. In 1958, the company entered the prescription pharmaceutical market and adopted its current corporate name, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.1 This transition was fundamental to its development into a specialist pharmaceutical company.

Growth and innovation

In 1962, Santen began selling Mydrin-P (tropicamide), an ophthalmic medicine used to dilate the pupil, which became important for diagnosis and surgery in Japan.1 That same year, the company introduced Super Sante, utilizing what it describes as Japan’s first plastic eye-drop container, demonstrating a commitment to combining pharmaceutical development with usability improvements.1 Santen was subsequently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and Osaka Securities Exchange in 1977.1

International expansion

During the 1980s and 1990s, Santen expanded its manufacturing and research infrastructure while developing a more international business.1 A U.S. subsidiary was established in 1993, followed by expansion into Europe throughout the decade.13 The company’s centennial in 1990 marked a strategic turning point, leading to a long-term vision centered on becoming a global ophthalmology leader.1

Expansion across Asia accelerated during the 2000s, with operations established in China, South Korea, and other markets, alongside manufacturing capabilities such as the Suzhou plant.1 During this period, the company also diversified beyond conventional eye drops into intraocular lenses, supplements, and other eye-health solutions.

Specialist ophthalmology focus

A major strategic milestone occurred in 2015 when Santen sold its anti-rheumatic pharmaceuticals business to AYUMI Pharmaceutical Corporation.1 This divestiture allowed Santen to concentrate resources entirely on ophthalmology, transitioning from a diversified pharmaceutical company to a specialist ophthalmology firm. Concurrently, the company expanded its Asian and European footprint, establishing subsidiaries in 2014 in several countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, and Spain.1

Current direction

Santen’s current corporate direction is expressed through the vision “Realizing Happiness with Vision,” aiming for “The Happiest Life for every individual through the Best Vision Experience.”2 In 2025, the company updated its corporate philosophy framework and launched its FY2025–2029 Medium-Term Management Plan, emphasizing sustainable growth, ophthalmic innovation, and addressing unmet needs in eye care.1

Santen operates primarily as an ophthalmology pharmaceutical company covering the full pharmaceutical value chain. Its activities include research and development, clinical development, manufacturing, quality assurance, sales and marketing, medical engagement, and business partnerships.2 The portfolio contains more than 70 products covering a broad range of ophthalmic diseases, reaching patients in over 60 countries and regions.1

Unlike diversified pharmaceutical conglomerates, Santen focuses its expertise and resources on a single organ system: the eye. This specialization distinguishes it from companies operating simultaneously in oncology, vaccines, cardiovascular medicine, or consumer health.

Santen works across several key areas of ophthalmology:

• Glaucoma: A major therapeutic area involving medicines designed to manage intraocular pressure and prevent vision loss. Glaucoma is identified as a priority particularly in European and Asian markets.1
• Dry eye: Products address symptoms and underlying problems associated with ocular surface disorders. Dry eye is considered a key therapeutic area in Asia and EMEA.1
• Eye infections: The portfolio includes ophthalmic antibiotics and anti-infective medicines in various markets, building on historical strengths in prescription ophthalmology.1
• Allergic eye disease: Treatments cover ocular allergies and inflammation, common categories of eye disease.1
• Cataract and surgical ophthalmology: Historical participation includes cataract-related ophthalmology, surgical/diagnostic applications, and associated medical devices.1
• Retinal diseases: Recent strategy includes strengthening the prescription portfolio and pipeline for retinal diseases and other areas of unmet need.1

Santen’s product portfolio varies by country due to differing regulatory approvals and commercial strategies. Broadly, the portfolio includes prescription eye drops, treatments for glaucoma and dry eye, anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy products, anti-infectives, cataract surgery adjuncts, and selected medical devices.2 While prescription ophthalmic pharmaceuticals constitute the core business, some regional operations also offer OTC treatments and nutritional products. Santen is distinguished not merely as an eye-drop brand but as a pharmaceutical company with ophthalmology as its primary specialization.

R&D is central to Santen’s identity, leveraging accumulated expertise in eye diseases. Competitive strengths include deep ophthalmic knowledge, patient-centric solutions, extensive professional networks, and expertise in maximizing product value.1 Development activities span discovery, preclinical work, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, and commercialization. The company also utilizes partnerships, external collaborations, and mergers and acquisitions to strengthen its pipeline.1

Japan

Japan remains Santen’s home market and a critical base for prescription ophthalmology. Based on IQVIA data, Santen describes itself as the No. 1 company in Japan within its relevant prescription ophthalmology market segments.1

Asia

Asia has become one of Santen’s most important international regions, with expansion accelerating from the 2000s onward.1 Operations have been established in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and other Asian markets.1 The company reports No. 1 positions in specific ophthalmology market categories in China and Asia based on IQVIA data.1

Europe and EMEA

Santen entered Europe in the 1990s and subsequently built a substantial EMEA organization covering European Union markets and other territories.13

Americas

A U.S. subsidiary was established in 1993 to support research, business development, and strategic marketing.1

Santen established a subsidiary in the Philippines in 2014 as part of a broader expansion across Asia and Europe.1 This entity integrates the Philippines into Santen’s wider Asian ophthalmology network, distinguishing it from a simple export market. The Philippine operations contribute to the company’s regional strength in Asia, where it maintains significant commercial roots.1

Santen emphasizes vision and quality of life through its vision statement: “Realizing Happiness with Vision.”2 This aspiration seeks “The Happiest Life for every individual, through the Best Vision Experience.” The core principle “Tenki ni sanyo suru” underpins the company’s approach to contributing to society and creating sustainable value.1 Good vision is positioned as essential to quality of life, independence, and social participation, extending beyond mere disease treatment.

The FY2025–2029 Medium-Term Management Plan focuses on continuing growth as a leading specialist ophthalmology company.1 Key strategic priorities include:

• Strengthening the prescription ophthalmology portfolio
• Expanding the development pipeline
• Addressing unmet medical needs in areas such as myopia and ptosis
• Strengthening regional businesses
• Improving product value and usability
• Continuing international growth
• Developing organizational capabilities under “Santen Commercial Excellence”1

This strategy reflects a commitment to developing new treatments and solutions for both established and emerging eye-health needs rather than relying solely on existing products.

Santen links sustainability directly to its business purpose of improving eye health, arguing that better vision contributes to productivity, independence, and social participation. The company frames sustainability around creating value through eye health while addressing environmental, social, and governance issues. Initiatives undertaken during FY2025 are covered in the 2026 Sustainability Report.2

While the modern corporate name is Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the company began as Taguchi Santendo. The name “Santen” emerged as the business evolved from a general pharmacy into a pharmaceutical company.1 The identity has been maintained throughout the transition from a diversified business to a highly specialized ophthalmology firm.

1. History of Santen | Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
2. About Santen Pharmaceutical | Santen
3. History | Santen