Amgen Launches New Disease Awareness Campaign for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
Starting in May 2026, Amgen K.K. has launched a disease awareness campaign for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED), a rare condition. The campaign aims to encourage early symptom recognition and appropriate medical consultations through the renewal of its dedicated website 'kojosen-gansho.jp' and videos featuring prominent figures.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 18, 2026 at 11:31
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Amgen K.K. (Headquarters: Tokyo, President: Susana Murteira, hereafter 'Amgen') will launch a disease awareness campaign for Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) starting in May 2026, coinciding with World Thyroid Day* on May 25. Through digital advertisements, the renewal of the disease awareness website 'kojosen-gansho.jp', the publication of patient testimonials and educational videos, and media tie-ups, the company will widely broadcast the importance of early recognition of TED symptoms and appropriate medical consultations.
Thyroid Eye Disease is a progressive and burdensome rare autoimmune disease, with an estimated 35,000 patients in Japan (1). It mostly occurs in association with Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism). It features 'visible' symptoms accompanied by facial changes (such as eyelid swelling and redness, bloodshot eyes, and bulging eyes) and 'invisible' symptoms accompanied by a decline in visual function (such as pain behind the eyes, double vision, photophobia, and dry eyes), which can restrict daily life and have a significant impact on mental health and social interactions (2). While closely related to Graves' disease, TED is a distinct disease with a different pathology from Graves' disease (3,4), and understanding and addressing each accordingly is important. Since the initial symptoms are often common eye complaints and are difficult to distinguish from other conditions, even patients with Graves' disease may not readily recognize eye symptoms as TED when they appear. Consequently, it takes time to reach a proper diagnosis or consult a specialist, and it has been reported that about 30% of people took over a year to be diagnosed (5).
Graves' Disease Patients Not Seeking Medical Care Despite Eye Symptoms
In a recent survey conducted by Amgen in Japan targeting thyroid disease patients, their families, and the general public, 83.0% of the general public and 62.9% of Graves' disease patients responded that they had 'never heard of' the disease 'Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)' (6). While it is said that 20% to 50% of Graves' disease patients develop TED (7,8), the survey showed that among Graves' disease patients who reported having eye symptoms, 39.4% had not consulted a medical institution for those symptoms (6). These results indicate that awareness of TED may still be insufficient even among Graves' disease patients. Amgen will strengthen its information dissemination to promote access to accurate information regarding TED and connect patients to symptom recognition and appropriate consultations.
Disease Awareness Campaign: 'Glad I Noticed. Thyroid Eye Disease'
For this campaign, Yurie Nabeya, a former Japan women's national volleyball team player who has experienced TED, has been appointed to create videos and banners encouraging the recognition of TED symptoms. These will be deployed online and on social media throughout the year.
Additionally, Amgen's TED disease awareness website, 'kojosen-gansho.jp' ( https://www.kojosen-gansho.jp/ ), will be completely renewed. It will feature newly published testimonial content from patients dealing with TED, including Ms. Nabeya and talent Rika Tsutaya. This redesign aims to make it easier for patients and their families to access information such as TED symptoms, guidelines for when to seek medical care, and nearby specialists, thereby supporting early consultations.
Under the mission 'To serve patients', Amgen, as a pharmaceutical company operating in areas of high unmet medical need, will continue to engage in disease awareness activities so that as many patients as possible can access appropriate treatment as quickly as possible, in addition to developing therapeutics.
* About World Thyroid Day
World Thyroid Day (May 25) is an awareness day aimed at deepening the understanding of thyroid health and thyroid diseases, leading to early detection and appropriate treatment. While thyroid diseases have many patients, their diverse symptoms often lead to them being overlooked, making this a recognized opportunity to broadly convey the importance of spreading accurate knowledge and getting tested.
https://www.japanthyroid.jp/doctor/promotion/index.html
About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
Thyroid Eye Disease is a rare, progressive, and potentially vision-threatening severe autoimmune disease (1). While mostly seen in conjunction with Graves' disease, it requires a different treatment approach from thyroid diseases because it is triggered by autoantibodies that activate a signaling complex of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor and IGF-1 receptor expressed on orbital fibroblasts (3,4). These lead to a series of symptoms, and in the most severe cases, can result in long-term complications such as blindness.
Thyroid Eye Disease is a progressive and burdensome rare autoimmune disease, with an estimated 35,000 patients in Japan (1). It mostly occurs in association with Graves' disease (hyperthyroidism). It features 'visible' symptoms accompanied by facial changes (such as eyelid swelling and redness, bloodshot eyes, and bulging eyes) and 'invisible' symptoms accompanied by a decline in visual function (such as pain behind the eyes, double vision, photophobia, and dry eyes), which can restrict daily life and have a significant impact on mental health and social interactions (2). While closely related to Graves' disease, TED is a distinct disease with a different pathology from Graves' disease (3,4), and understanding and addressing each accordingly is important. Since the initial symptoms are often common eye complaints and are difficult to distinguish from other conditions, even patients with Graves' disease may not readily recognize eye symptoms as TED when they appear. Consequently, it takes time to reach a proper diagnosis or consult a specialist, and it has been reported that about 30% of people took over a year to be diagnosed (5).
Graves' Disease Patients Not Seeking Medical Care Despite Eye Symptoms
In a recent survey conducted by Amgen in Japan targeting thyroid disease patients, their families, and the general public, 83.0% of the general public and 62.9% of Graves' disease patients responded that they had 'never heard of' the disease 'Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)' (6). While it is said that 20% to 50% of Graves' disease patients develop TED (7,8), the survey showed that among Graves' disease patients who reported having eye symptoms, 39.4% had not consulted a medical institution for those symptoms (6). These results indicate that awareness of TED may still be insufficient even among Graves' disease patients. Amgen will strengthen its information dissemination to promote access to accurate information regarding TED and connect patients to symptom recognition and appropriate consultations.
Disease Awareness Campaign: 'Glad I Noticed. Thyroid Eye Disease'
For this campaign, Yurie Nabeya, a former Japan women's national volleyball team player who has experienced TED, has been appointed to create videos and banners encouraging the recognition of TED symptoms. These will be deployed online and on social media throughout the year.
Additionally, Amgen's TED disease awareness website, 'kojosen-gansho.jp' ( https://www.kojosen-gansho.jp/ ), will be completely renewed. It will feature newly published testimonial content from patients dealing with TED, including Ms. Nabeya and talent Rika Tsutaya. This redesign aims to make it easier for patients and their families to access information such as TED symptoms, guidelines for when to seek medical care, and nearby specialists, thereby supporting early consultations.
Under the mission 'To serve patients', Amgen, as a pharmaceutical company operating in areas of high unmet medical need, will continue to engage in disease awareness activities so that as many patients as possible can access appropriate treatment as quickly as possible, in addition to developing therapeutics.
* About World Thyroid Day
World Thyroid Day (May 25) is an awareness day aimed at deepening the understanding of thyroid health and thyroid diseases, leading to early detection and appropriate treatment. While thyroid diseases have many patients, their diverse symptoms often lead to them being overlooked, making this a recognized opportunity to broadly convey the importance of spreading accurate knowledge and getting tested.
https://www.japanthyroid.jp/doctor/promotion/index.html
About Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)
Thyroid Eye Disease is a rare, progressive, and potentially vision-threatening severe autoimmune disease (1). While mostly seen in conjunction with Graves' disease, it requires a different treatment approach from thyroid diseases because it is triggered by autoantibodies that activate a signaling complex of the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor and IGF-1 receptor expressed on orbital fibroblasts (3,4). These lead to a series of symptoms, and in the most severe cases, can result in long-term complications such as blindness.
FAQ
What is Thyroid Eye Disease (TED)?
It is a progressive, rare autoimmune disease often associated with Graves' disease, causing eye swelling and pain.
Who are the campaign ambassadors?
Former Japan women's national volleyball player Yurie Nabeya and others are featured in awareness videos and testimonials.
Where can I find more information?
Detailed information, symptom guides, and testimonials are available on Amgen's awareness website, 'kojosen-gansho.jp'.