UCB Japan
UCB Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of Belgian biopharma UCB Group, commercializing prescription drugs in neurology (epilepsy), immunology/inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, HS), and rare diseases (myasthenia gravis), serving physicians, pharmacists, and patients through wholesalers and a growing direct sales organization.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What UCB Japan does
UCB Japan Co. Ltd. (ユーシービージャパン株式会社) is the Japanese subsidiary of Belgian biopharmaceutical group UCB (Euronext Brussels: UCB), established in 1988 and headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company manufactures and commercializes prescription pharmaceuticals in three therapeutic franchises: neurology (epilepsy drugs Vimpat, Briviact, Fintepla), immunology/inflammation (Cimzia for rheumatoid arthritis, Bimzelx for psoriasis and HS), and rare diseases (Rystiggo and Zilbrysq for generalized myasthenia gravis). It operates a manufacturing facility in Saitama, integrated from the Izumizaki site in 2001, and holds pharmaceutical manufacturing and import sales licenses.
The business model is sales-led: UCB Japan generates revenue from prescription drug sales through pharmaceutical wholesalers to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, complemented by a growing direct sales organization. The company has progressively transitioned major assets from co-promotion with partners (Daiichi Sankyo for Vimpat, Astellas for select products) to self-commercialization, with E Keppra (2020), Simponi (2025), Cimzia (2025), and Vimpat (2026) now sold direct. It targets two primary customer segments: patients with severe neurological, immunological, and bone diseases, and the healthcare professionals who treat them. Pricing follows the Japanese national health insurance reimbursement framework and is not publicly disclosed.
UCB Japan supports its franchises through patient education portals (UCBCares, My colorinG for gMG, WoCBA for RA) and a healthcare professional portal (hcp.ucbcares.jp), and runs disease-awareness campaigns. Recent strategic activity centers on rare disease expansion (Rystiggo 2023, Zilbrysq 2024), label and formulation extensions (Briviact pediatric/dry syrup filing 2026), portfolio rationalization (Fintepla transferred to Nippon Shinyaku in 2026), and a co-development partnership with Biogen on dapirolizumab pegol for systemic lupus erythematosus. UCB Group employs approximately 9,000 people globally and reported €6.1 billion in FY2024 revenue; UCB Japan is privately held as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
UCB Japan firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UCB Japan
- Legal name
- UCB Japan Co. Ltd. (ユーシービージャパン株式会社)
- Website
- https://ucbjapan.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- UCB Japan is the Japanese subsidiary of Belgian biopharma UCB Group, commercializing prescription drugs in neurology (epilepsy), immunology/inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, HS), and rare diseases (myasthenia gravis), serving physicians, pharmacists, and patients through wholesalers and a growing direct sales organization.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UCB Japan industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Pharmaceuticals
- NAICS
- Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)
- SIC
- Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD), Dermatology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAL), Endocrinology & Metabolic Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAD)
Keywords
Where UCB Japan is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
UCB Japan business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Pharmaceutical Product Sales: UCB Japan generates revenue through the sale of prescription pharmaceutical products in Japan, focusing on neurology, immunology/inflammation, and bone disease therapeutic areas. The company markets drugs for epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, osteoporosis, and rare diseases.
- Product Commercialization: Revenue from commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products including anti-epilepsy drugs, rheumatoid arthritis treatments, psoriasis treatments, and rare disease therapeutics. The company has transitioned to self-distribution models for certain products (e.g., Vimpat sales transferred from Daiichi Sankyo to UCB Japan in 2026).
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
UCB Japan product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UCB Japan develops, manufactures (at its Saitama factory), and commercializes prescription pharmaceutical products in Japan focused on neurology (epilepsy treatments Vimpat®, Briviact®, Fintepla®; myasthenia gravis treatments Rystiggo®, Zilbrysq®), immunology/inflammation (Cimzia® for rheumatoid arthritis; Bimzelx® for psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa), and bone disease. The company sells through pharmaceutical wholesalers and increasingly via its own direct sales organization to medical institutions, supported by the UCBCares patient and HCP digital portals.
Product overview
UCB Japan is a biopharmaceutical company specializing in neurology, immunology/inflammation, and rare diseases. The product portfolio includes antiepileptic drugs (Vimpat®, Briviact®, Fintepla®), rheumatoid arthritis treatment (Cimzia®), psoriasis and immunology treatments (Bimzelx®), and rare disease treatments for myasthenia gravis (Rystiggo®, Zilbrysq®). The company also operates patient support platforms through UCBCares for disease education and resources. Since 2023, UCB Japan has expanded into rare disease treatments and transitioned to direct sales organizations for several products.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vimpat® (ビムパット®) Anti-epileptic medication for seizure treatment, available in tablets, dry syrup, and IV infusion forms. Prescribed for epilepsy patients.
- Briviact® (ブリィビアクト®) Anti-epileptic medication approved for epilepsy treatment, available in tablet and IV forms with a dry syrup formulation under application.
- Cimzia® (シムジア®) Biologic medication for rheumatoid arthritis treatment in adult patients.
- Bimzelx® (ビンゼレックス®) Biologic treatment for immunology and inflammation indications including plaque psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Rystiggo® (リスティーゴ®) Subcutaneous injection treatment for adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), a rare autoimmune neuromuscular disease.
- Zilbrysq® (ジルブリスク®) Subcutaneous injection treatment for generalized myasthenia gravis, available in 16.6mg, 23.0mg, and 32.4mg auto-injector formats.
- UCBCares Patient Portal Patient support and information portal (ucbcares.jp) providing disease education, treatment information, and community resources for patients in neurology, immunology, and rare disease areas including epilepsy, hidradenitis suppurativa, myasthenia gravis, psoriasis, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Companies that use UCB Japan
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
UCB Japan technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
UCB Japan partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BiogencoreUCB and Biogen collaboration on dapirolizumab pegol (DZP) Phase III clinical trial for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Positive Phase III results published in The Lancet. This represents a co-development partnership in immunology.
- Belgium-Japan 160th Anniversary SponsorshipminorUCB served as Platinum sponsor for the Belgium-Japan 160th Anniversary Friendship commemorative business events. Demonstrates corporate citizenship and ties to Belgian parent company heritage.
- Daiichi Sankyo (第一三共株式会社)minorPreviously co-promoted Vimpat (ビムパット) with Daiichi Sankyo in Japan. Co-commercialization agreement ended in March 2026, with full sales rights transferred to UCB Japan. Historical distribution partnership that transitioned to self-commercialization.
- Nippon Shinyaku (日本新薬株式会社)minorManufacturing and marketing authorization for Fintepla (フィンテプラ) 内用液2.2mg/mL for epilepsy seizure treatment was succeeded to Nippon Shinyaku. UCB transferred the manufacturing and marketing rights in Japan.
- Astellas Pharma (アステラス製薬株式会社)minorAstellas is listed as a co-promotion partner for certain products and is included in joint data utilization arrangements. Also handles inquiries for co-promoted products.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UCB Japan competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited: Japan's largest pharma with global footprint; overlaps in neurology, rare diseases, and immunology. Comparable as a broad incumbent with extensive Japan field force.
- Astellas Pharma Inc. Large Japanese pharma operating broadly in immunology, rare diseases, and specialty care; existing co-promotion partner of UCB Japan. Compares as a broader incumbent with overlapping therapeutic areas.
- Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. Major Japanese pharma and former co-promotion partner for Vimpat; representative of the larger established commercial players against which UCB Japan's direct sales build-out competes.
Direct peers
- Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd. Mid-cap Japanese specialty pharma with strong rare disease and neurology focus; recently acquired Fintepla rights from UCB Japan. Directly comparable therapeutic mix and scale profile.
- Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Japanese pharma with strong CNS/neurology franchise (including epilepsy and psychiatry). Comparable therapeutic focus and mid-to-large scale Japan operations.
- Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. Japan-based specialty pharma with focus on immunology, rare diseases, and bone; comparable portfolio diversification strategy and Japan-anchored commercialization.
- Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. Mid-cap Japanese specialty pharma active in CNS, oncology, and rare diseases; comparable therapeutic breadth and mid-sized commercial organization in Japan.
- Eisai Co., Ltd. Japanese specialty pharma with deep neurology franchise (epilepsy, dementia) and direct overlap with UCB Japan's antiepileptic portfolio. Comparable in size, therapeutic focus, and Japan-centric commercialization model.
Others
- Biogen Inc. US-based biotech with neurology and immunology focus and active co-development partner on DZP for SLE. Comparable therapeutic alignment; engaged as a strategic ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor.
- UCB Group (Belgium): Parent company and ultimate portfolio owner; provides the pipeline, capital, and strategic direction that UCB Japan executes. Included as the controlling ecosystem participant rather than a competitive peer.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
UCB Japan social profiles
Digital presenceUCB Japan compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
UCB Japan financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UCB Japan leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
UCB Japan subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
UCB Japan funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UCB Japan M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UCB Japan
What does UCB Japan do?
UCB Japan develops, manufactures (at its Saitama factory), and commercializes prescription pharmaceutical products in Japan focused on neurology (epilepsy treatments Vimpat®, Briviact®, Fintepla®; myasthenia gravis treatments Rystiggo®, Zilbrysq®), immunology/inflammation (Cimzia® for rheumatoid arthritis; Bimzelx® for psoriasis and hidradenitis suppurativa), and bone disease. The company sells through pharmaceutical wholesalers and increasingly via its own direct sales organization to medical institutions, supported by the UCBCares patient and HCP digital portals.
Is UCB Japan a public or private company?
UCB Japan is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was UCB Japan founded?
UCB Japan was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is UCB Japan based?
UCB Japan is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does UCB Japan make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Pharmaceutical Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are product Commercialization.
Who are UCB Japan's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Astellas Pharma Inc. and Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.. Direct peers are Nippon Shinyaku Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. and Eisai Co., Ltd.. Others are Biogen Inc. and UCB Group (Belgium).
Does UCB Japan have an API?
No public API is recorded for UCB Japan.
What industry is UCB Japan in?
UCB Japan's product category is Specialty Pharmaceuticals. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAIACAC, Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals, with a secondary code of HLAIAAAD, Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals. Its NAICS code is 325412 and its SIC code is 2834.