Our history of 260 years.
SSP Co., Ltd. is a pharmaceutical company specializing in OTC (over-the-counter) drugs and healthcare products, providing a variety of products to meet health needs for 260 years since its establishment in 1765.
In 2017, SSP became a part of Sanofi, a global healthcare leader headquartered in Paris, France. SSP operated as a part of Sanofi’s consumer healthcare division, Opella. In 2025, Opella became an independent CHC company owned by CD&R, a global private equity. Opella is one of the top three consumer healthcare companies in the world with products sold in more than 140 countries.
While SSP enjoys broad consumer support through its antipyretic analgesic “EVE”, allergy medication “Alesion”, L-cysteine vitamin “Hythiol”, and sleep-improving drug “Drewell”, the company will continue to contribute to improving people's health and quality of life through the development of high value-added pharmaceuticals such as “Switch OTC drugs” and the promotion of self-medication. For more information on SSP, please visit https://www.ssp.co.jp/.
- 1765Founded as Minoya Yakubo in Yaesu, Tokyo by Shosuke Shirai
- 1940Company name changed to SSP Co., Ltd.
- 1964Narita Site opened in Narita-city, Chiba prefecture
- 1985First to market ibuprofen as “EVE” OTC drug in Japan
- 2003First to market sleep-improving drug as “Drewell” OTC drug in Japan
- 2011First to market epinastine hydrochloride as “Alesion” OTC drug in Japan
- 2017Joined the Sanofi Group as a result of the business exchange between Boehringer Ingelheim and Sanofi.
- 2024Sanofi's Consumer Healthcare division was renamed 'Opella.'
EVE released its first new product in seven years, “Eve Three Shot Premium.” - 2025Opella business becomes an independent CHC company where CD&R, a global Private equity has a controlling stake. Sanofi retains a significant stake in the new company.