Also known as: Chugai
Chugai Pharmaceutical is a Japanese pharmaceutical company focused on research, development, manufacturing, and sales of medicines, and it is majority-owned by Roche. The company was founded in 1925 and is headquartered in Tokyo.
The FDA has approved Eli Lilly's GLP-1 weight loss pill Foundayo, which will compete with Novo Nordisk's Wegovy pill. Foundayo will be available through LillyDirect and pharmacies, with prices ranging from $25 with insurance to $149-$349 for cash payers. The approval sets up a new battle in the oral GLP-1 market between the two pharmaceutical giants.
Eli Lilly's orforglipron demonstrated superior A1C reduction and weight loss compared to oral semaglutide in the ACHIEVE-3 trial, with regulatory submissions filed in over 40 countries and a potential US decision expected in Q2 2026.
Chugai Pharmaceutical launched ELEVIDYS in Japan as the first regenerative medical product for Duchenne muscular dystrophy following its listing on the National Health Insurance reimbursement price list on February 20, 2026.
Zenyaku Kogyo obtained Japanese regulatory approval for Rituxan (rituximab) as a treatment for autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a government-designated intractable disease. The approval follows a public knowledge-based application submitted in August 2025.
Eli Lilly has built $1.5 billion in pre-launch inventory of oral weight loss drug orforglipron ahead of an April 2026 FDA decision, while Phase 3 data showed the drug maintained weight loss after switching from injectables.
