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Our Company

Our History

The 1980s marked an intense period of research and discovery for Sucampo’s founders Ryuji Ueno, M.D., Ph.D., Ph.D., and Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D. Leading teams of talented scientists, Drs. Ueno and Kuno unlocked the therapeutic potential of prostones, leading to more than 900 international patents and the Japanese launch of their first product. This success led Dr. Ueno and Dr. Kuno to found Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in 1996.

Awards & Recognition

  • In November 2004, Sucampo signed a collaboration and license agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited for lubiprostone in the United States and Canada.
  • In April 2006, Sucampo received marketing approval from the U. S. FDA for AMITIZA for a gastrointestinal indication.
  • Dr. Ueno was awarded Nikkei BP Publications’ 2006 Japan Innovator of the Year Award.
  • In 2007, Sucampo became a publicly traded company as it listed its shares on Nasdaq under the trading symbol SCMP.
  • In 2007, Drs. Ueno and Kuno received the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Greater Washington Area in the Life Sciences Category.
  • In 2008, AMITIZA received a marketing approval from the FDA for a second gastrointestinal indication.
  • In 2008, Dr. Ueno was named an honorary member of the American Gastroenterological Association.
  • In 2008, Sucampo was ranked #100 on the Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 list
  • In 2008, Sucampo received the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) Hall of Fame Award for distinguished service to Consultant and Senior Care Pharmacy Practice.
  • In 2009, Dr. Kuno was recognized as one of the 25 "Women Who Mean Business" by The Washington Business Journal.
  • In 2009, Sucampo was ranked #65 by the Deloitte-sponsored Technology Fast 500™
  • In February 2009, Sucampo signed a license agreement for AMITIZA in Japan with Abbott Japan Co. Ltd.
  • In April 2009, Sucampo acquired the rights to RESCULA for the U.S. and Canada.
  • In May 2009, Sucampo was named "Biotechnology Firm of the Year" by the TechCouncil of Maryland.
  • In November 2009, Sucampo received marketing approval for AMITIZA for a gastrointestinal indication in Switzerland.
  • In December 2009, AMITIZA was named one of The Top 10 Drugs of the Decade by The Pharmacist Activist.
  • In September 2010, Sucampo filed a new drug application for lubiprostone for a gastrointestinal indication in Japan.
  • In December 2010, Sucampo acquired Sucampo AG, of Switzerland, to strengthen its patent portfolio.
  • In March 2011, Sucampo entered into a development and commercialization for RESCULA that expanded Sucampo’s rights beyond the United States and Canada to all countries in Europe and the rest of the world except Japan, Korea, Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China.