Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia

What Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia does

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-incorporated pharmaceutical subsidiary of Japan's Kowa Company, Ltd., established in 2017 to serve as the regional head office for the group's Asian pharmaceutical operations. The company distributes and markets prescription drugs targeting cardiovascular diseases (dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia) and ophthalmology (glaucoma, ocular hypertension, corneal diseases). Its commercial portfolio comprises Livalo (pitavastatin, an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), Parmodia (pemafibrate, a selective PPARα modulator branded SPPARMα), Glanatec (ripasudil, the world's first-in-class Rho kinase inhibitor for glaucoma), and Glaalpha (a fixed-dose combination of ripasudil and brimonidine). The portfolio is supplemented by AVANSEE intraocular lenses and OTC selfcare products distributed through Kowa Self Care International.

The business operates on a sales-led, channel-partner go-to-market model. Prescription drugs reach patients through direct engagement with healthcare professionals (doctors, pharmacists, nurses) and through regional channel partners (Recordati and ESTEVE in Spain, Eli Lilly in Mexico, Tai Tien and P.T. Tanabe in Taiwan and Indonesia). Underlying R&D relies on novel-mechanism proprietary platforms — most notably Rho kinase inhibition (licensed inbound from D. Western Therapeutics Institute in 2014) and SPPARMα (selective PPARα modulation) — supported by an active Phase 3 pipeline including K-321 for Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy and K-232 fixed-dose combination. Strategic research alliances include co-development of SGLT2 inhibitor CSG452 with Chugai Pharmaceutical and Sanofi (2012), the Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences with Brigham and Women's Hospital/Harvard (2009), and computational drug discovery work with Fujitsu and University of Tokyo RCAST (2014).

Revenue mechanics follow a traditional prescription pharmaceutical model with OTC retail for self-care products; no public pricing is disclosed. Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia captures only a portion of parent Kowa Group's ¥573,930m consolidated sales (fiscal year ended March 31, 2024) and 7,974 consolidated headcount, with no standalone segment revenue reported for the Asia subsidiary. The parent's network of 69 subsidiaries across Japan, Asia, North America, Latin America, and Europe provides global distribution reach, but limits direct visibility into the entity's independent financial trajectory.

Name

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia

Legal name

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia Pte. Ltd.

Website

https://kowa-pharma.asia

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia is a Singapore-based pharmaceutical subsidiary of Japan's Kowa Company, commercializing cardiovascular (Livalo, Parmodia) and ophthalmology (Glanatec, Glaalpha) prescription drugs across Asia, with a Phase 3 pipeline in glaucoma and corneal disease.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prescription Pharmaceuticals

NAICS

Ophthalmic Goods Manufacturing (339115), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (423460), Ophthalmic Goods Merchant Wholesalers (42346)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Ophthalmic Goods (3851), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cardiometabolic Pharmaceuticals (Cardiovascular/Diabetes/Obesity) (HLAIAAAE), Cardiology & Vascular Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAG), Specialty Care Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAB), Ophthalmology Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAK), Eye, Ear & Nasal Care (HLAIADAF)

Keywords

• Prescription pharmaceuticals
• Cardiovascular therapeutics
• Ophthalmic solutions
• Intraocular lenses
• Selfcare products

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Prescription Drugs: Research, development, and manufacturing of prescription drugs including cardiovascular medicines and ophthalmic products distributed through healthcare professionals.
2. OTC Medicines / Selfcare Products: Over-the-counter healthcare products, supplements, and selfcare products through Kowa Self Care International.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia researches, develops, and distributes prescription pharmaceuticals across cardiovascular (dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia) and ophthalmic (glaucoma, ocular hypertension) specialties in Asia. Core brands include Livalo (pitavastatin), Glanatec (ripasudil), Parmodia (pemafibrate), and the Glaalpha fixed-dose combination. The company also markets AVANSEE intraocular lenses and OTC selfcare products via Kowa Self Care International.

Product overview

Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia operates as a pharmaceutical company focused on prescription drugs and selfcare products. The core portfolio includes cardiovascular treatments (Livalo/pitavastatin for dyslipidemia, Parmodia/pemafibrate for hypertriglyceridemia) and ophthalmic products (Glanatec/ripasudil for glaucoma - the world's first Rho kinase inhibitor, Glaalpha fixed-dose combination). Medical devices include AVANSEE intraocular lenses for cataracts. The company also offers OTC selfcare products through Kowa Self Care International.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Livalo: Prescription drug (pitavastatin) for the treatment of dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia.
• Glanatec
• Parmodia
• Glaalpha

Products and services

• Livalo (Pitavastatin) HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor (statin) for the treatment of dyslipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, available in 1mg, 2mg, and 4mg doses, prescribed by healthcare professionals.
• Glanatec (Ripasudil) Ophthalmic solution 0.4% containing ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate, the world's first Rho kinase inhibitor for glaucoma and ocular hypertension; lowers intraocular pressure by promoting aqueous humor outflow through the trabecular meshwork-Schlemm canal.
• Parmodia (Pemafibrate) Selective PPARα modulator (SPPARMα) for hyperlipidemia characterized by high triglycerides; improves lipid metabolism by selectively modulating gene expression involved in lipid metabolism.
• Glaalpha Fixed-dose combination ophthalmic solution containing ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (0.4%) and brimonidine tartrate (0.1%) for glaucoma and ocular hypertension; offers three intraocular pressure-lowering mechanisms.
• AVANSEE Intraocular Lenses Intraocular lens brand for cataract treatment, part of Kowa's ophthalmic medical equipment portfolio.
• Selfcare Products Over-the-counter healthcare products and supplements available through Kowa Self Care International.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase II/III trial showed peretinoin 600mg/day reduced risk of HCC recurrence/death by ~27% compared to placebo
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• D. Western Therapeutics Institute, Inc. (DWTI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 December 2014Licensed ripasudil hydrochloride dihydrate (GLANATEC) from DWTI. This substance was launched in Japan in 2014 and developed globally for glaucoma and corneal diseases.
• University of Tokyo's RCASTminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 August 2014IT-based drug discovery collaboration for cancer target. RCAST provided protein research, Kowa synthesized compounds and ran assays. Collaboration generated novel active compound with 12.5% success rate.
• Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2012License agreement and co-development of SGLT2 inhibitor CSG452 for type 2 diabetes. Chugai, Kowa, and Sanofi co-developed the compound. Chugai manufactures products for supply to Kowa and Sanofi, who file under their own brand names. Chugai receives milestone payments.
• Sanofi K.K.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 October 2012Co-development of SGLT2 inhibitor CSG452 with Chugai and Kowa for type 2 diabetes treatment. Sanofi co-files for marketing authorization under its own brand name.
• P.T. Tanabe IndonesiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2011Consolidated subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma started marketing Livalo (pitavastatin) in Indonesia after regulatory approval in November 2011.
• Eli LillyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 August 2011Marketing partner for Redevant (pitavastatin) in Mexico. Eli Lilly introduced the product after Mexican health authority approval.
• Recordati S.p.AminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 May 2011Co-marketing partner for Livazo (pitavastatin) in Spain as the first European market launch.
• ESTEVEminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 May 2011Co-marketing partner for Livazo (pitavastatin) in Spain as the first European market launch.
• Tai Tien Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2011Consolidated subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma started marketing Livalo (pitavastatin) in Taiwan after regulatory approval in January 2011.
• Brigham and Women's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 December 2009Opened The Center for Interdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences (CICS) in Boston for collaborative cardiovascular research between Kowa and Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital scientists.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Novartis (Alcon ophthalmology): Global pharmaceutical incumbent with a substantial ophthalmology portfolio (via Alcon) covering glaucoma, dry eye, and retinal disease. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating in glaucoma with the scale and R&D resources Kowa's ophthalmology franchise competes against.
• Roche: Global pharmaceutical incumbent with ophthalmology presence (Lucentis, Vabysmo) and significant cardiovascular/diabetes pipeline. Comparable as a broad incumbent with therapeutic area overlap in major categories Kowa targets.
• Allergan (AbbVie): Major ophthalmology player (now part of AbbVie) with glaucoma, dry eye, and retinal disease franchises. Comparable as a broad incumbent in ophthalmology pharmaceuticals with significant scale against Kowa's differentiated regional franchise.
• Bausch + Lomb (Bausch Health): Global ophthalmic pharmaceutical and medical device company with a broad portfolio spanning glaucoma, cataract surgery, and contact lenses. Comparable as a broad incumbent in ophthalmology products and devices with overlapping categories in Kowa's glaucoma and intraocular lens business.
• Otsuka Pharmaceutical: Diversified Japanese pharmaceutical group with prescription drugs across cardiovascular, neurology, and other therapeutic areas. Comparable as a Japanese broad-line pharma peer with overlapping cardiovascular and specialty drug categories.
• Astellas Pharma: Japan-headquartered global pharmaceutical company with an ophthalmology portfolio alongside oncology and urology franchises. Comparable as a Japanese prescription pharma peer with broader therapeutic exposure and significant US/EU commercialization.

Direct peers

• Santen Pharmaceutical: Japanese specialty ophthalmology pharmaceutical company with a global glaucoma and ocular surface franchise. Directly comparable as another Japan-headquartered ophthalmology prescription drug peer with overlapping glaucoma product portfolios.
• Daiichi Sankyo: Major Japanese pharmaceutical company with a leading cardiovascular franchise (statins, antihypertensives) and global oncology presence. Comparable as a Japan-headquartered prescription drug peer with overlapping cardiovascular therapeutic categories served by Livalo and Parmodia.
• Senju Pharmaceutical: Japan-based ophthalmology-focused pharmaceutical company specializing in prescription treatments for glaucoma, dry eye, and ocular inflammation. Directly comparable because it operates in the same Japanese ophthalmology specialty prescription drug category as Kowa's Glanatec/Glaalpha.

Regional players

• Mochida Pharmaceutical: Japan-based mid-size pharmaceutical company focused on specialty therapeutic areas including cardiovascular and dermatology. Comparable as a smaller Japanese prescription drug peer operating in similar cardiovascular and specialty care categories.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kowa-pharmaceutical-asia-pte

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Kowa Pharmaceutical Asia