Rohto Pharmaceutical

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Native name
ロート製薬株式会社
Rōto Seiyaku kabushiki gaisha
Company typePublic KK
TYO: 4527
Industry
FoundedHigashinari-ku, Osaka, Japan (September 15, 1949 (1949-09-15), to reorganize "Shintendo, Yasutami Yamada pharmaceutical Company")
FounderYasutami Yamada
HeadquartersIkuno-ku, Osaka, Japan
Key people
  • Kunio Yamada (chair and CEO, great-grandson of the founder)
  • Masashi Sugimoto (president and COO)
Revenue
  • Increase¥120,292 million (FY 2011)[* 1]
  • ¥115,472 million (FY 2010)
  • Increase¥13,624 million (FY 2011)[* 1]
  • ¥13,105 million (FY 2010)
  • Increase¥8,184 million (FY 2011)[* 1]
  • ¥7,966 million (FY 2010)
Total assets
  • Increase¥136,008 million (FY 2011)[* 1]
  • ¥126,472 million (FY 2010)
Total equity
  • Increase¥83,627 million (FY 2011)[* 1]
  • ¥77,911 million (FY 2010)
Number of employees
7,259 (as of March 31, 2024)
SubsidiariesMentholatum
Rohto Advanced Research Hong Kong Ltd
Websitewww.rohto.co.jp/global/
Footnotes / references
  1. ^ a b c d e "Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2012" (PDF). Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. May 11, 2012. Retrieved November 12, 2012.

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (ロート製薬株式会社, Rōto Seiyaku Kabushiki-gaisha) is a multinational corporation specializing in fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Japan.[1] The company's primary focus is skin and eye care products, they also produce cosmetics, food supplements, and over-the-counter medications.[1]

International presence

In 1975, Rohto gained trademark rights to Mentholatum from The Mentholatum Company Inc., allowing the sale of Mentholatum-branded products.[2] Rohto acquired The Mentholatum Company Inc. in June 1988.[2][3]

Rohto has two production plants in Japan and six across the US, UK, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Rohto entered the Vietnamese market in 1997 to serve the Asia Pacific region. In mid-2010, Rohto entered the Indian and Bangladeshi markets.

In 2024 Rohto Pharmaceutical entered into a partnership with the Austrian Sigmapharm Group aimed to expand the production and distribution of ophthalmic drugs and medical products across Europe, with Rohto Pharmaceutical investing nearly €30 million in research, development, production, and sales.[4]

History

Yasutami Yamada (山田 安民) founded "Japanese: 信天堂山田安民薬房, lit. 'Shintendo Yamada Yasutami Pharmacy'" in Osaka, on February 22, 1899.[2] ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co. is the largest company in Japan's OTC drugs market, commanding a 40% share in the eye-drop sector.[3] The name "Rohto" was inspired by August von Rothmund,[note 1] a German ophthalmologist who was a professor for Toyotaro Inoue (井上 豊太郎, Inoue Toyotarō), a Japanese ophthalmologist.

Footnotes

Notes

  1. ^ In Japanese, August von Rothmund was known as アウグスト・フォン・ロートムント (Augusuto-fon-Rōtomunto).

References

  1. ^ a b "Rohto Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, 4527:TYO profile - FT.com". markets.ft.com. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  2. ^ a b c Mallett, Daryl F. (2000). "The Mentholatum Company, Inc.". International directory of company histories. Vol. 32. Detroit, Michigan: St. James Press. p. 332. ISBN 9781558623910 – via Internet Archive.
  3. ^ a b "ROHTO Pharmaceutical". World Economic Forum. Archived from the original on 2024-07-05. Retrieved 2025-01-09.
  4. ^ "Japan's Rohto Pharmaceutical Invests in Austrian Sigmapharm". Vindobona.org | Vienna International News. Retrieved 2025-01-09.