JASSO and Boehringer Ingelheim Japan Sign Comprehensive Partnership Agreement to Promote Health through Obesity Research and Measures

April 27, 2026 - Tokyo, Japan

Boehringer Ingelheim Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President of Pharma Business Unit: Masataka Ogimura) and the Japan Society for the Study of Obesity (JASSO) (Location: Naniwa-ku, Osaka; Chairperson: Ichiro Shimomura) signed a comprehensive partnership agreement on April 24, 2026, aimed at promoting obesity countermeasures and improving related systems in Japan. This agreement was concluded with the goal of promoting cooperation in areas where mutual collaboration is possible, under the philosophy of 'working on the prevention and treatment of obesity in Japanese people to create a "Healthy Japan."' Both parties will cooperate on obesity prevention, development of medical delivery systems, and promotion of disease understanding in Japan.

Obesity (BMI ≧ 25) is a risk factor that brings about various health disorders. Among these, cases where health disorders are already present or predicted to occur, and where weight reduction is medically determined to be necessary, are treated as the disease 'obesity disease.' According to the latest 'National Health and Nutrition Survey,' the proportion of people with obesity is 34.0% for men and 20.2% for women, with the proportion among adult men showing a long-term increasing trend. Maintaining and improving the quality of life (QOL) for individuals with obesity or obesity disease may not be fully achieved through medical intervention alone; a social approach, including the elimination of misconceptions and stigma, is also crucial. Therefore, there is a need to build a sustainable support system for society as a whole to face obesity through cooperation among various fields and professions.

The cooperative relationship established this time is mutually reinforced by the alignment of the goals of JASSO's philosophy and Boehringer Ingelheim's purpose, 'Transforming lives for generations.'

Key Measures of the Agreement:
Based on this agreement, both parties will collaborate and consider the following four pillars:
1. Promotion of prevention throughout the life course: Developing a social environment that allows for the formation of healthy lifestyle habits and maintenance of appropriate weight according to health issues at each life stage.
2. Strengthening collaboration to develop medical delivery systems: Building a smooth path from health checkups to treatment and specialist care, and improving access to appropriate medical care under a system that ensures safety and quality. Furthermore, promoting and improving standard treatments through multi-professional and multi-institutional cooperation.
3. Eliminating lack of understanding of obesity and obesity disease: Providing evidence-based information on the multi-factorial nature of obesity and effective prevention/treatment to reduce barriers to treatment caused by misunderstandings and prejudice.
4. Other collaborative measures: Promoting other measures agreed upon by both parties that contribute to the policy of this agreement within the scope of compliance with laws and regulations.

Comments from Representatives:
Ichiro Shimomura, Chairperson of JASSO: 'Obesity disease is a factor in the development and progression of various health disorders, and overcoming it is one of the most important themes in Japanese medicine. Through this comprehensive collaboration, we hope to contribute to the promotion of national health by establishing a seamless system from prevention to treatment.'
Rie Nakanishi, Head of Obesity/Liver/Metabolism Business Unit, Boehringer Ingelheim Japan: 'We view obesity disease as a chronic disease that requires medical intervention, not just a matter of appearance or habit. Through our collaboration with JASSO, we are committed to contributing to social understanding and medical system optimization beyond the provision of therapeutic drugs.'