Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Heads of Japan pharma company resign over scandal linked to 80 deaths

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 24 Jul 2024 09:06
3 Min Read

Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals acted with an "insufficient sense of urgency" and failed to prioritize patient safety, according to an external report released by the company's board.

Listen
  • x
  • A woman points her finger at the signage of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical as she walks past the company's office in Tokyo on March 28, 2024. (AFP)
    A woman points her finger at the signage of Kobayashi Pharmaceutical as she walks past the company's office in Tokyo on March 28, 2024. (AFP)

Japan's Kobayashi Pharmaceutical's president and chairman resigned on Tuesday following an investigation revealing 80 deaths potentially related to dietary supplements used to reduce cholesterol levels.

The pharmaceutical firm acted with an "insufficient sense of urgency" and failed to prioritize patient safety, according to an external report released by the company's board on Tuesday. The report, conducted by external lawyers, showed that Kobayashi Pharmaceuticals started to receive reports of kidney-related problems from physicians in mid-January and early February.

The health issues originated from the pharmaceutical company's over-the-counter tablets, containing red yeast rice, or "beni koji," fermented with a mold culture. 

Kobayashi Pharmaceutical released a statement concerning President Akihiro Kobayashi and Chairman Kazumasa Kobayashi's resignation, saying the decision was made "to clarify executive responsibility over a series of actions by our company related to the ‘beni koji’ issue."

Related News

UK shredded key files amid infected blood deaths lawsuit panic

Mold produced a harmful acid

Red yeast rice is a common ingredient used in food, alcoholic drinks, and folk medicine in the East Asian region, and has been proven to improve cholesterol levels. However, medical studies have also warned that the constituent poses a risk of organ damage depending on its chemical makeup.

In the case of the dietary supplements, the mold produced a potentially harmful acid that resulted in customers returning three brands of tablets in March due to kidney-related issues. The pharmaceutical company then conducted an internal probe, discovering a total of 80 deaths were potentially linked to kidney problems caused by the dietary supplements.

“Kobayashi Pharmaceutical had never before received multiple reports of serious cases from doctors in such a short period of time," the team of lawyers said on Tuesday, stressing that the company should have withdrawn the products and reported the cases. However, the action was only taken after the investigation was conducted.

“Despite this, the company did not immediately consider disclosure to consumers, acting with an insufficient sense of urgency," the lawyers added.

The government also criticized the firm's delayed reporting of cases, describing their lack of transparency as "extremely regrettable." 

Although Akihiro Kobayashi will continue to play a role in managing the company's compensation-related issues to claim responsibility for the harm, the firm revealed that its new president is their former head of sustainability policy, Satoshi Yamane.

  • Japan
  • pharmaceutical company
  • Pharmaceuticals industry

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS