Healthcare Business
Mainstay Brands
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Health DrinksYUNKER
On the market for more than 60 years, YUNKER is one of Sato’s leading brands. The product lineup includes more than 30 health drink varieties, and the brand continues to maintain top market share. Ichiro Suzuki, a former MLB player, serves as brand ambassador. With unique formulations based on years of research into herbal medicine, Sato is also focused on introducing new products to meet the needs of changing lifestyles.
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Medicated Anti-gingivitis ProductACESS
ACESS is the first medicated anti-gingivitis product in Japan derived from natural herbs. This leading brand has continued to stay at the top of the market for anti-gingivitis medications. It contains a blend of three herbs—chamomile, ratanhia and myrrh—the effectiveness of which in relation to periodontal disease has been confirmed in clinical tests. In a market that is expanding along with the aging of the population, we are also actively introducing new products.
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Cold MedicineSTONA
The STONA series is a cold medicine brand from Sato which was introduced about 60 years ago. STONA has been well-received as a differentiated product offering a symptom- specific lineup and employing quick-dissolving gel capsules. By offering highly effective cold medicines tailored to each individual’s specific cold symptoms, we contribute to improving consumer quality of life.
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Antipyretic AnalgesicRINGL IB
RINGL IB is an antipyretic analgesic effective against menstrual pain, headache, toothache and fever. To address the need for quick pain relief, the active ingredient ibuprofen is dissolved in liquid form in capsules. Its solid efficacy against menstrual pain, headaches and other pain as well as fever has won the support of many users, especially women.
Product Development
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Switch OTC Drugs
Among ethical drugs prescribed by doctors, Switch OTC drugs are drugs with relatively few side effects and a high level of safety that can be sold as OTC drugs. They are expected to play a major role in the practice of self-medication, not only in improving symptoms, but also in preventing illness and improving quality of life. Sato is actively promoting the development of Switch OTC drugs, which are expected to have an advantage in the market, and many of the products we have launched to date have captured top market share.
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New Products
We are actively working to strengthen the product lineup of our mainstay brands, while also developing new products that accurately meet the changing needs of consumers. We are also developing products that are easier for consumers to use, not only in terms of product formulation, but also in areas like dosage form and packaging. We support self-medication through the expansion of a wide range of products.
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Foods with Function Claims
As consumer awareness of health grows, there is an increasing emphasis on efforts to prevent illness in everyday life. Functional foods based on scientific evidence are attracting particular attention, and Sato is focusing on the development of new functional foods. We support each individual’s self-care and self-medication efforts, from prevention to treatment, through the sale of OTC drugs and Foods with Function Claims.
Cosmetics and New Businesses
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Bringing Together a Pharmaceutical Company’s TechnologyEXCELLULA
Based on about 100 years of technology developed by Sato, EXCELLULA is an aging care cosmetic brand created from accumulated research into the mechanisms of aging skin from the perspective of dermatology. It has been highly rated as a highly functional basic skin care product, and going forward we will continue to leverage our unique technology as a pharmaceutical company to respond to the skin concerns of women with our proprietary highly concentrated, highly penetrating formula.
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A Skin Care Brand from FranceURIAGE
URIAGE is a skin care brand from the south of France formulated with water from the Uriage hot springs, which have gushed forth for about 75 years. We are expanding our line of skin care products made with this hot springs water in addition to lotion, lip cream and others. In March 2022, we will launch the URIAGE CICADAILY series, aiming to further enhance the power of the brand as a dermocosmetic based on dermatological research.
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Aging Care Cosmetic BrandSATO Series
The SATO series was created in 2009 under the concept of “bringing confidence and shine to adult skin.” This aging skin care series, which is steadily gaining a following, incorporates Sato Pharmaceutical’s formulation technologies, including for extraction and blending of crude drugs, a deep delivery system created from the application of medical technology and ointment technologies.
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Designated Quasi-drugsYUNKER ROYAL Series
Products in the YUNKER ROYAL series are designated quasi-drugs, health drinks sold primarily at convenience stores, supermarkets and elsewhere. As with YUNKER, a pharmaceutical product, the series offers a lineup of products tailored to individual consumer needs with our unique blend of crude drugs. We are responding to market needs by introducing not only drinks, but also tablets and granules, as well as new dosage forms such as jelly pouches.
Marketing
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An Effective Promotion StrategyUsing Brand Ambassadors
Using former MLB player Ichiro Suzuki as the face of the YUNKER brand, we are working to expand the number of customers. The STONA brand ambassador is figure skater Mao Asada, while ACESS is represented by Shunputei Shota, a traditional storyteller. Akane Hotta, an actor represents RINGL IB, and actor Nao Matsushita is the face of EXCELLULA. Our goal is to expand recognition and increase market share through the use of television commercials.
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Utilizing Digital Marketing toProvide a Variety of Information to Consumers and Retailers
Sato provides information using a variety of digital tools to ensure a correct understanding of our products and to help people select the products that are right for them. Starting from dedicated sites for each brand, we use a variety of digital advertising and social media to distribute detailed information.
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Supporting Retail ManagementThrough Seminars and Symposia
Sato holds seminars and symposia nationwide for pharmacists and drugstore staff, providing useful information on new products and industry trends. This ongoing series includes the Sato Drug Store Conference, for drugstore managers, and the Sato Symposium for pharmacy and drugstore managers. As part of our support for retail management, lectures are also conducted by experts from Japan and overseas.
