Our Heritage

As a relatively new company, Sunovion's official history may be short. But our roots in pharmaceutical research and innovation run long and deep.

Sunovion is the offspring of two scientifically advanced, research-based pharmaceutical companies, Sepracor Inc., in the U.S., and Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd., (DSP) in Japan. Sunovion is a U.S. company with international perspective and the ability to take advantage of global research and drug development.

Sepracor inspiration. The success of Sepracor Inc. was built on the strategic insight that certain drugs are based on chiral, or asymmetrical molecules—those that have distinct "right-handed" and "left-handed" aspects. Sepracor began isolating the separate isomers from these mixtures to create new medicines to evaluate them for safety and efficacy profiles.

Beginning in 1989, Sepracor used this pioneering approach to develop new, clinically viable compounds that could be licensed to larger pharmaceutical companies that were better positioned to develop and market them. Some brands, such as ALLEGRA® (fexofenadine HCl), and CLARINEX® (desloratadine), have since become household names. After going public in 1991, Sepracor embarked on a strategy that led to its success as a fully integrated specialty pharmaceutical company; one that is able not only to discover and develop innovative treatments, but also to fully realize their market potential. Over time, Sepracor's approach to developing its pipeline broadened to include a variety of corporate development and licensing agreements.

DSP dedication to development. With a company history stretching back 100 years, the top-ten Tokyo-listed Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd. (DSP), established its foothold in the United States in 2006 as Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc. (DSPA) and acquired Sepracor in 2009.

Now the two organizations have become one in Sunovion.

Like Sepracor, DSP has had a pragmatic approach to research, accelerating the process by tapping into a global network of partners and subsidiaries to find the most efficient and successful ways to develop and market new drugs.

Sunovion inheritance. Sunovion now brings together the scientific focus, pragmatism, and dedication to research of both Sepracor and DSPA. Our new company combines entrepreneurial energy, with the willingness to take on any challenge, and always keeping the longer view in sight.

We'll continue to develop therapies in two distinct treatment areas—central nervous system disorders and respiratory diseases, as well as explore other therapeutic areas. We will be working more and more closely with national and international partners and resources to keep a constant stream of worthwhile new drugs flowing into the pipeline. And, just as important, to keep a steady flow of effective treatments flowing out to our patients. Because we at Sunovion put our patients front and center, determined day by day to fulfill the promise of “Healthy bodies, healthy lives.”