| Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | |
| Native Name: | ロート製薬株式会社 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Romanized Name: | Rōto Seiyaku kabushiki gaisha |
| Type: | Public KK |
| Foundation: | Higashinari-ku, Osaka, Japan (to reorganize "Shintendo, Yasutami Yamada pharmaceutical Company") |
| Founder: | Yasutami Yamada |
| Location: | Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Japan |
| Num Employees: | 7,259 (as of March 31, 2024) |
| Subsid: | Mentholatum Rohto Advanced Research Hong Kong Ltd |
is a multinational corporation specializing in fast-moving consumer goods and pharmaceuticals, headquartered in Ikuno-ku, Osaka, Japan.[1] The company's primary focus is skin and eye care products, they also produce cosmetics, food supplements, and over-the-counter medications.
In 1975, Rohto gained trademark rights to Mentholatum from The Mentholatum Company Inc., allowing the sale of Mentholatum-branded products. Rohto acquired The Mentholatum Company Inc. in June 1988.[2] [3]
Rohto has two production plants in Japan and six across the US, UK, China, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. Rohto entered the Vietnamese market in 1997 to serve the Asia Pacific region. In mid-2010, Rohto entered the Indian and Bangladeshi markets.
In 2024 Rohto Pharmaceutical entered into a partnership with the Austrian Sigmapharm Group aimed to expand the production and distribution of ophthalmic drugs and medical products across Europe, with Rohto Pharmaceutical investing nearly €30 million in research, development, production, and sales.[4]
founded "ja|信天堂山田安民薬房|lit=Shintendo Yamada Yasutami Pharmacy" in Osaka, on February 22, 1899.[2] ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co. is the largest company in Japan's OTC drugs market, commanding a 40% share in the eye-drop sector. The name "Rohto" was inspired by August von Rothmund,[5] a German ophthalmologist who was a professor for, a Japanese ophthalmologist.