Banyu Pharmaceutical

Banyu Pharmaceutical was a prominent Japanese pharmaceutical company that served as the primary vehicle for Merck & Co. (MSD) in Japan for several decades. Founded in 1915, the company established a landmark partnership with Merck in the 1950s, leading to Merck acquiring a majority stake in 1984 and full ownership in 2004. Banyu was instrumental in the Japanese development and commercialization of global blockbuster therapies, particularly in the fields of cardiovascular health, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases. In 2010, following the global merger of Merck and Schering-Plough, Banyu merged with Schering-Plough's Japanese operations to form MSD K.K. Today, its legacy continues through the extensive portfolio of medicines and vaccines distributed by MSD in the Japanese market.