D. Western Therapeutics Institute, Inc.
Corporate brand
UnclaimedJapanese biopharmaceutical venture developing protein kinase inhibitors, known for the glaucoma drug Glanatec.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
D. Western Therapeutics Institute, Inc. (DWTI) is a Japanese biopharmaceutical venture company headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture. Founded in February 1999 as a limited company by Hiroyoshi Hidaka, a medical doctor and visiting professor at Duke University, DWTI is dedicated to pharmaceutical research and development. The company's name derives from its patented proprietary technology, the "Drug Western Method." DWTI focuses on the discovery and development of protein kinase inhibitors, particularly ROCK (Rho-associated kinase) inhibitors, for ophthalmic and other therapeutic applications. The company's most notable achievement is the development of ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (development code K-115), marketed as Glanatec ophthalmic solution 0.4%, a treatment for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It received domestic manufacturing and marketing approval in September 2014 and was launched in Japan in December 2014. DWTI has also developed a combination ophthalmic solution, Glaalpha, approved and launched in Japan in December 2022. Other pipeline assets include H-1337 for glaucoma, DW-1001 for ophthalmic diseases, DW-1002 (TissueBlue) for intraocular surgery, DW-5LBT for neuropathic pain, and DWR-2206 for corneal endothelial disease. DWTI operates through partnerships and licensing agreements with major pharmaceutical companies, including Kowa, Wakamoto Pharmaceutical, Rohto Pharmaceutical, Glaukos Corporation, and MedRx. The company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (formerly JASDAQ NEO) since October 2009. As of December 2025, DWTI has a capital of 697 million yen and 19 employees. It maintains its headquarters in Nagoya and a research laboratory at Mie University's Graduate School of Medicine. The company continues to advance its pipeline through clinical trials in Japan and the United States, striving to deliver innovative new drugs originating from Japan to patients worldwide.
History
D. Western Therapeutics Institute, Inc. (DWTI) was established in February 1999 as a limited company (yugen kaisha) in Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, with initial capital of 5 million yen. The founder, Hiroyoshi Hidaka, a medical doctor and visiting professor at Duke University, had previously been arrested and convicted in 1998 for accepting 256 million yen in personal compensation from three companies, including Otsuka Pharmaceutical, which violated the prohibition on individual compensation under industry-academia collaboration rules; he received a suspended sentence. The company's name is derived from the "Drug Western Method," a patented technology held by the company. In September 2002, DWTI entered into development and implementation agreements with Kowa Company, Ltd. for K-134 (for arteriosclerosis obliterans) and K-115 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension). In November 2004, the company reorganized from a limited company to a stock company (kabushiki kaisha) with capital increased to 10 million yen. In December 2006, it signed an industry-academia-government collaborative research agreement with Mie University and established the "Clinical Drug Discovery Research Course" within the university. On October 23, 2009, DWTI listed its shares on the JASDAQ NEO market of the JASDAQ Securities Exchange (now the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market). In October 2010, following the integration of the Hercules and JASDAQ markets, it transitioned to JASDAQ Growth. In March 2013, it signed an agreement with Wakamoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. granting an exclusive license with sublicensing rights for the development, manufacture, use, and sale of H-1129 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension) in Japan. In October 2013, DWTI filed for domestic manufacturing and marketing approval for K-115 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension). In September 2014, K-115 received domestic manufacturing and marketing approval under the product name Glanatec ophthalmic solution 0.4% (generic name: ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate) for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. It was launched in Japan in December 2014. In June 2015, DWTI signed an in-licensing agreement to acquire exclusive rights in Japan for an ophthalmic therapeutic agent (development code DW-1001). In November 2015, it made Nihon Shinkai Sosaku (Japan Innovative Drug Discovery) Co., Ltd. a consolidated subsidiary through a joint investment with Rohto Pharmaceutical. In April 2017, it acquired the business related to an ophthalmic surgical aid containing BBG250 (development code DW-1002) from Helios Co., Ltd. In March 2018, DWTI began Phase I/early Phase II clinical trials in the United States for H-1337 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension), its first self-developed product. In August 2018, it signed a joint research and license agreement with Glaukos Corporation of the United States for glaucoma treatment products. In February 2019, Glanatec ophthalmic solution 0.4% received import drug approval in South Korea. In August 2019, it filed an IND application for a Phase II clinical trial in the United States for ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate targeting Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (development code K-321). In September 2019, development of H-1129 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension) was discontinued. In December 2019, it signed a license agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. granting exclusive rights in Japan for DW-1001. In February 2020, a Phase III clinical trial in Japan began for a combination agent for glaucoma treatment (ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate and brimonidine tartrate). In April 2020, DW-1002 (product name: TissueBlue) was launched in the United States for internal limiting membrane staining, and a joint development agreement was signed with MedRx Co., Ltd. for the neuropathic pain treatment DW-5LBT. In August 2020, a US marketing application was filed for DW-5LBT (for postherpetic neuralgia). In September 2020, DWTI expanded its joint research with Glaukos Corporation to include corneal disorders and retinal diseases and signed a new license agreement. In October 2021, DW-1002 (TissueBlue) was launched in Canada. In November 2021, DWTI filed for domestic manufacturing and marketing approval for K-232 (for glaucoma and ocular hypertension). In March 2022, a Phase I clinical trial in Japan began for DW-1001. In June 2022, a joint development agreement was signed with Actuate Co., Ltd. for DWR-2206, a regenerative medicine cell product for bullous keratopathy. In August 2022, a Phase III clinical trial in the United States began for K-321 (for Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy). In December 2022, Glaalpha combination ophthalmic solution (development code K-232) was launched in Japan for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, and a late Phase II clinical trial in the United States began for H-1337. In March 2023, a global Phase III clinical trial began for K-321. In March 2024, a Phase II clinical trial in Japan began for DWR-2206 (for bullous keratopathy). In September 2025, DW-5LBT received US approval for postherpetic neuralgia. As of December 2025, DWTI has capital of 697 million yen and 19 employees. Its headquarters is located in Nagoya, and its development laboratory is at Mie University. The company continues to advance its pipeline of ophthalmic and other therapeutic candidates.
- 2025
Received US approval for DW-5LBT for postherpetic neuralgia.
- 2024
Began Phase II clinical trial in Japan for DWR-2206.
- 2023
Began global Phase III clinical trial for K-321.
- 2022
Launched Glaalpha combination ophthalmic solution in Japan.
- 2021
Launched DW-1002 (TissueBlue) in Canada.
- 2020
Launched DW-1002 (TissueBlue) in the US; signed joint development agreement with MedRx for DW-5LBT.
- 2020
Filed US marketing application for DW-5LBT.
- 2019
Glanatec received import drug approval in South Korea.
- 2019
Discontinued development of H-1129.
- 2019
Signed license agreement with Rohto Pharmaceutical for DW-1001 in Japan.
Products and positioning
Biopharmaceutical venture focused on protein kinase inhibitors, aiming to deliver innovative new drugs originating from Japan to the world.
Glanatec ophthalmic solution 0.4%
Ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate, a ROCK inhibitor for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, approved in Japan in 2014.
Glaalpha combination ophthalmic solution
Combination of ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate and brimonidine tartrate for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, launched in Japan in 2022.
TissueBlue (DW-1002)
Ophthalmic surgical aid for internal limiting membrane staining, launched in the US in 2020 and Canada in 2021.
H-1337
Self-developed candidate for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, in US late Phase II trial.
DW-1001
Ophthalmic therapeutic agent in-licensed from Rohto Pharmaceutical, in Phase I trial in Japan.
DW-5LBT
Neuropathic pain treatment for postherpetic neuralgia, developed with MedRx, approved in the US in 2025.
DWR-2206
Regenerative medicine cell product for bullous keratopathy, developed with Actuate, in Phase II trial in Japan.
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