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Sawai Eyes Global Position Helped by Japan Growth And Upsher-Smith – But No Biosimilars

 
• By Ian Haydock

In an exclusive interview, the president of Japan’s largest generics company relates his strategy for success, including internal expertise in intellectual property challenges and staying away from biosimilars. US acquisition Upsher-Smith will meanwhile provide the foundation for overseas growth.

Osaka
Osaka-Based Sawai Looks To Make Global Waves • Source: Shutterstock

Sawai Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan’s largest generics company by sales, made its first foray overseas with the 2017 acquisition of Upsher-Smith Laboratories LLC, but its home market still provides the bulk of sales and a mix of challenges and opportunities, set against a generally supportive policy environment.

Even so, the first half of last fiscal year was challenging, president Mitsuo Sawai conceded. Sawai had an average drug price cut in April 2018 of 13

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