Teikoku Pharma

What Teikoku Pharma does

Teikoku Pharma USA, Inc. is a wholly-owned, family-controlled US specialty pharmaceutical subsidiary of Japan's Teikoku Seiyaku Co., Ltd. Founded in California in 1997, the company is headquartered in a 75,000 square foot facility in San Jose and operates in concert with its Japanese parent, which traces its origins to 1848 and runs global R&D and manufacturing sites in Kagawa (Japan) and Qingdao (China) through the Fuso Teiyaku subsidiary. Teikoku develops and licenses proprietary transdermal drug delivery therapies in three core therapeutic areas: non-opioid pain management, CNS disorders, and dermatology. Its two foundational technology platforms — Hydrohesive (hydrophilic adhesive for topical delivery, up to 1 mg/day, daily application) and Matrix (hydrophobic adhesive/rate-controlled membrane for systemic delivery, up to 10 mg/day, up to 7-day application) — underpin a portfolio including the marketed Lidoderm and Versatis (lidocaine 5% patch for post-herpetic neuralgia), Docetaxel alcohol-free injection for oncology, and Japan's first donepezil transdermal patch (ALLYDONE). Its pipeline features TPU-006 (a 4-day dexmedetomidine patch for post-surgical pain, Phase 3 ready with FDA Fast Track Designation), TK-254Rx (an NSAID patch for sports injuries), and TPU-030 (for Alzheimer's-related agitation).

The company's commercial model is asset-light and partner-led: products are distributed globally through exclusive licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical counterparties, including Endo (US Lidoderm), Grünenthal (EU/Latin America Versatis), Link Healthcare Group (China Lidoderm), Kowa (Japan ALLYDONE), Eisai (US Aricept patch rights), and Eagle Pharmaceuticals (US Docetaxel). Revenue is generated through a mix of product sales, licensing royalties, and contract manufacturing — Teikoku Seiyaku produces 200+ Rx and OTC products distributed in 50+ countries, and the Hydrohesive-based prescription gel patch franchise holds approximately 30% global market share. The company has no external institutional funding, is privately held by the Akazawa family, and prioritizes regulatory and geographic expansion (China, Japan, EU, US) over M&A or capital-markets activity, with one historical bolt-on acquisition (Travanti Pharma, 2009) bringing in the Wearable Electronic Disposable Drug delivery (WEDD) technology platform.

Name

Teikoku Pharma

Legal name

Teikoku Pharma USA, Inc.

Website

https://teikokuusa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Teikoku Pharma USA is a family-owned specialty pharmaceutical subsidiary of Japan's Teikoku Seiyaku, developing proprietary transdermal drug delivery products including Lidoderm, ALLYDONE patches, and the TPU-006 Phase 3 non-opioid pain candidate, commercialized through exclusive partnerships with major global pharma distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Transdermal specialty pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Pain Management & Anesthesiology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAL), Dermatology & Aesthetics Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAK)

Keywords

• Transdermal drug delivery
• Pharmaceutical patches
• Pain management therapies
• Oncology injectables
• CNS disorder treatments

Headquarters

HQ city

San Jose

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pharmaceutical Product Sales: Direct sales of proprietary pharmaceutical products including Lidoderm (lidocaine 5% patch) for post-herpetic neuralgia, and Docetaxel alcohol-free injection for oncology. Products are sold through the company's own distribution and via partners.
2. Licensing and Royalty Revenue: The company generates licensing revenue from distribution partners including Endo (US), Grünenthal (Europe/Latin America), and others. Partners market products under different brand names and pay licensing fees or royalties.
3. Contract Manufacturing: Teikoku Seiyaku operates manufacturing facilities in Japan and China producing over 200 Rx and OTC products distributed in more than 50 countries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Teikoku Pharma develops, manufactures, and commercializes specialty pharmaceutical products leveraging proprietary transdermal drug delivery technologies (Hydrohesive and Matrix). Its marketed portfolio includes Lidoderm and Versatis (lidocaine 5% patches for post-herpetic neuralgia), ALLYDONE (donepezil transdermal patches for Alzheimer's dementia in Japan), and an alcohol-free Docetaxel injection for oncology. The company advances a pipeline of additional transdermal therapies and partners with major pharmaceutical distributors globally to commercialize its products.

Product overview

Teikoku Pharma is a global specialty pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures, and commercializes pharmaceutical products leveraging proprietary transdermal drug delivery technologies. Its portfolio spans marketed products and a pipeline across three therapeutic areas: non-opioid pain management, CNS disorders, and dermatology. Key marketed products include Lidoderm (Lidocaine 5% Patch) for post-herpetic neuralgia and ALLYDONE Patches for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. The pipeline features TPU-006 (4-day dexmedetomidine transdermal patch for post-surgical pain), TK-254Rx (S-flurbiprofen NSAID hydrogel patch for sports injuries), and TPU-030 (for agitation in Alzheimer's dementia). The company operates two core proprietary delivery platforms — Hydrohesive (for topical administration, up to 1 mg/day, daily application) and Matrix (for systemic delivery, up to 10 mg/day, up to 7-day application) — enabling continuous transdermal drug delivery across 1–7 days.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Lidoderm: Lidocaine 5% Patch - First prescription hydrogel patch approved in the United States for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).
• Versatis
• TPU-006
• TK-254Rx

Products and services

• Lidoderm (Lidocaine 5% Patch, US) Lidoderm is a prescription hydrogel transdermal patch containing 5% lidocaine, approved in 1999 as the first prescription hydrogel patch in the United States for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN). It provides topical analgesia following a 12-hour on/12-hour off schedule for up to three days per application, using Hydrohesive technology to deliver a localized analgesic effect.
• Versatis (Lidocaine 5% Patch, EU) Versatis is a topical 5% medicated lidocaine plaster prescribed in Europe and Latin America for the management of neuropathic pain associated with previous herpes zoster infection (post-herpetic neuralgia). Co-developed and distributed by Grünenthal across Europe and Latin America under license from Teikoku Pharma.
• Docetaxel Alcohol-Free Injection Docetaxel alcohol-free injection is a non-alcohol taxane chemotherapy indicated for the treatment of breast cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, prostate cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma, and head and neck cancer. It eliminates the alcohol-related side effects associated with standard docetaxel formulations and is distributed in the United States by Eagle Pharmaceuticals.
• ALLYDONE Patches 27.5 mg / 55 mg ALLYDONE Patches 27.5 mg and 55 mg are Japan's first Donepezil Transdermal Therapeutic System (tape formulation), approved in Japan for the suppression of progression of dementia symptoms in dementia due to Alzheimer's disease. Manufactured by Teikoku Seiyaku and exclusively distributed in Japan by Kowa Company, Ltd. The transdermal format addresses difficulty swallowing oral medications and reduces caregiver burden.
• TPU-006 (4-Day Dexmedetomidine Transdermal Patch) TPU-006 is an investigational, non-NSAID, non-opioid analgesic transdermal patch designed to deliver dexmedetomidine continuously for 4 days or longer following surgery for post-surgical pain management. Phase 2 results demonstrated statistically significant lower pain scores and reduced opioid rescue medication use versus placebo in bunionectomy and abdominoplasty models. It received FDA Fast Track Designation in June 2023 and is positioned as a non-opioid alternative for post-operative pain.
• TK-254Rx (S-Flurbiprofen Hydrogel Patch) TK-254Rx is an investigational s-flurbiprofen 1.5% topical NSAID hydrogel patch designed for once daily application for up to seven days in acute minor sports injuries such as strains, sprains, and contusions. It uses proprietary Hydrohesive technology and has completed Phase II study with clear efficacy and a clean safety profile.
• TPU-030 TPU-030 is an investigational Teikoku Pharma product in development for the treatment of agitation associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type, extending the company's CNS transdermal franchise beyond the approved ALLYDONE product. Specific stage of development and launch timing are not detailed in the source material.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% global market share in prescription gel patches
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Link Healthcare Group (LHG)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2018Exclusive licensing agreement signed in 2018 for development and distribution of Lidoderm in China. NMPA approved Lidoderm on May 8, 2024.
• Travanti Pharma Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 May 2009Acquisition of Minneapolis-based Travanti Pharma to broaden transdermal delivery capabilities and enhance pipelines in pain and CNS. Acquired WEDD (Wearable Electronic Disposable Drug delivery) technology platform.
• Eisai Co., Ltd.majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 March 2009Exclusive worldwide (excluding Japan) licensing agreement for 7-day transdermal formulation of donepezil (Aricept patch). Teikoku developed the weekly patch based on this license. NDA accepted for review by FDA in September 2010.
• Kowa PharmamajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo-listed as current partner. Kowa is the exclusive marketing and distribution partner for ALLYDONE patches in Japan.
• EndomajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo-listed as current partner. Endo distributes Lidoderm and authorized generic lidocaine patch 5% in the United States.
• Grünenthal GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo-listed as current partner. Grünenthal distributes Versatis in Europe and Latin America.
• Mitsubishi Tanabe PharmacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo-listed as current partner in Japanese pharmaceutical distribution.
• NoucorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLogo-listed as current partner in pharmaceutical distribution network.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: Diversified specialty pharma with significant transdermal and pain franchises (e.g., Exalgo, Flector patch), operating at much larger scale and offering overlapping pain and CNS delivery capabilities.

Direct peers

• Collegium Pharmaceutical: US specialty pharma focused on responsible pain management (Xtampza ER, Nucynta), serving the same prescriber channels in non-opioid and abuse-deterrent pain therapies.
• Noven Pharmaceuticals (Hisamitsu subsidiary): US-based transdermal drug delivery specialist (Daytrana, Vivelle-Dot, Minivelle) and a Hisamitsu subsidiary, operating as a direct technology and product peer in prescription patches.
• IBSA Institut Biochimique: Switzerland-based specialty pharma with a leading lidocaine 5% medicated plaster (Versatis generic equivalent) competing in the same European neuropathic pain market served by Grünenthal using Teikoku's product.
• Eagle Pharmaceuticals: US specialty pharma and Teikoku's US distribution partner for alcohol-free Docetaxel injection, focused on injectable and hospital specialty pharmaceuticals with similar partner-driven commercialization.
• Hisamitsu Pharmaceutical: Japanese specialty pharma and global leader in transdermal patches (Salonpas, Mohrus, Fentos), competing most directly with Teikoku Seiyaku in prescription and OTC medicated plasters across Asia, the US, and Europe.
• Endo Pharmaceuticals: US specialty pharma and Teikoku's distribution partner for Lidoderm and authorized generic lidocaine patch 5%, with parallel focus on pain management and CNS specialty therapeutics.
• Grünenthal GmbH: Germany-based specialty pharma and Teikoku's EU/LatAm distribution partner for Versatis, with deep expertise in pain management and neuropathic pain franchises — directly comparable commercial model.

Emerging players

• Lupin Pharmaceuticals: India-based generics manufacturer with a growing transdermal patch portfolio, competing in the same lidocaine and prescription patch categories with cost-advantaged manufacturing.

Regional players

• ScieGen Pharmaceuticals: US-based specialty generics manufacturer with significant lidocaine patch 5% production, a direct US market competitor in the same post-herpetic neuralgia patch category served by Lidoderm.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/85590

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Teikoku Pharma