Japan's pharmaceutical companies have donated medical supplies and millions of dollars in funding for victims of the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday.
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company hascontributed JPY300m ($3.6m) to aid emergency relief through the Japanese Red Cross Society.
The company added in a statement, In addition to the cash donation aforementioned, Takeda is planning the donation of pharmaceutical products (both ethical and over-the-counter) and all other supports that are feasible for the company.
Daiichi Sankyo has made a donation of $1.2m and is evaluating the feasibility of donating medical supplies to the worst affected areas, which inlude Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima.
Global pharmaceutical company Eisai has also offered aid to the Tohoku Pacific Earthquake Relief Fund.
The firm contributed $244,000 in response to the disaster, according to a company statement.
The company has established an independent crisis centre in the Tohoku region headed by its deputy president to formulate and implement thoroughgoing measures in response to this disaster. In line with its human healthcare mission, Eisai is determined to make best efforts to support patients and their families as well as residents living in the disaster-affected area, the firm said.
Meanwhile big US and Japanese drug makers said that they are still trying to account for all of their employees in Japan in the wake of the earthquake and the tsunami which followed, but preliminary reports suggest company facilities haven't suffered major damage, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The disaster may have killed more than 10,000 people, Japanese officials have suggested.
SOURCE: pharmaceutical-technology
