Our research and development strategy is focused on CNS, diabetes, immunology/allergy and infectious diseases, and we are continually in the process of developing new drugs for worldwide use. To support these activities, we have formed alliances with domestic and overseas firms, and have established a subsidiary, Taisho Pharmaceutical R&D Inc., in New Jersey. These efforts have increased both the speed and success rate of our R&D activities.
Taisho provides medical practitioners, pharmacists and other health-care professionals with information, grounded in evidence-based medicine (EBM). The Company also strives to raise the qualifications of its medical representatives, who gather information on the needs of treatment facilities and feed that information back to us.
Our Research Division has established an internal suggestion system, under which a person whose suggestion is adopted is made a project leader, regardless of age or seniority, and researchers, motivation is increased through performance-based evaluation.
In recent years, one of the pressing issues in our prescription pharmaceutical business has been a capital tie-up with Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd., a pharmaceutical manufacturer in Japan. Through the joint establishment of Taisho Toyama Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and joint R&D in specific areas, we are moving toward a stronger organization.