Company

Mr. Takahashi is Managing Partner at Catalys Pacific. Prior to Catalys Pacific, he was an investment banker with Morgan Stanley for 12 years and played a significant role in over 30 distinguished transactions with an enterprise value of over US$15.0 billion. Prior to working for Morgan Stanley, Takeshi worked at Merrill Lynch’s asset management division.Takeshi graduated from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics, and holds an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Proficiently bilingual and bicultural.

Takashi has extensive experience as a management member in Japanese startup ecosystem. He has been the CFO of an internet technology startup, Fringe81 Co. Ltd, a listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE:6550) for 7 years and played a significant role in its IPO process and fundraising, among others.

Prior to the above startup, he worked for the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley and played a significant role in M&As and other deals. Takashi also was a vice president at Nomura’s M&A division.

Prior to Nomura, he was a turnaround manager at the Industrial Revitalization Corporation of Japan, a government-sponsored private equity, and played a key role in revitalizing businesses of the portfolio companies thereof.

Takashi graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with honors and holds an MBA degree. Takashi also holds a master’s degree in science (solid state physics) from Kyoto University and B.A. in nuclear engineering.

Kikuo brings more than 40 years of experience in CNS drug development. From 2016 to 2019, he served as Head of Patient Safety, and from 2013 to 2016, served as Head of Clinical Development at Novartis. Throughout the tenure (2000-2019) at Novartis, Kikuo also served as Head of Clinical Operations as well as Group manager of CNS Clinical Research. Prior to Novartis, Kikuo served as Group Manager of CNS Clinical Research at Bayer. He graduated from Kyushu University with a degree in biology.

After graduating the School of Medicine at Kobe University in 1997, Shinichi Nishiuma worked in clinical practice as an internal medicine resident and subsequently, as a gastroenterologist at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital.

Driven by his concern about the drug lag in hepatitis C therapies, he then joined Schering-Plough (later merged with MSD) where he worked in clinical development. At Eli Lilly Japan, after gaining experience in clinical development, medical affairs, and pharmacovigilance operations, he was appointed as the safety management supervisor and also launched a new division within the R&D department that specialized in real-world data research. At Celgene in Japan, he was appointed as Head of Medical Department in 2018, and after Celgene’s merger in 2020, as the lead of the oncology area in the medical department of Bristol Myers Squibb in Japan. He then assumed his current role at Aculys from November 2022.

Shinichi Nishiuma serves as Vice Chairperson of The Japanese Association of Pharmaceutical Medicine and Chairperson of the association’s Medical Affairs Committee, and has received his certification as a certified physician in pharmaceutical medicine from the association. He has also been certified as a general internal medicine specialist by The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.

Tommy brings nearly 2 decades of extensive commercial experience in the pharma and medical device industries, including international assignments, launching global brands, and partnering with global counterparts.

He previously served as Chief of Staff at Novartis Japan and co-lead with the CEO to navigate the local Executive Committee (EC) to drive the business. Tommy was responsible for developing the communication strategy employed to enhance the CEO’s external/internal communications and employee engagement, and partnered with local EC members in making strategic and operational decisions.

Prior to his role as Chief of Staff, Tommy served as brand lead in various therapeutic areas including CNS, Immunology, Allergy, and Respiratory, at global pharma and medical device companies where he led the launches of new, diverse healthcare products, and accumulated extensive people management experience in the marketing and sales functions. Motivated by impacting patients’ and caregivers’ experience and happiness, he built and delivered various around-the-pill, beyond-the-pill solutions across various therapeutic areas.

He received bachelor’s degree in policy management from Keio University.

Madoka joined Sanofi (Aventis at the time) in 2004 and experienced various functions including Oncology Medical Affairs to manage post-marketing clinical studies/publication, Oncology Marketing, Business Intelligence, and Sales Force Effectiveness. Then she launched a new advanced analytics team focusing on commercial-related analytics, later expanding her scope to omni-channel marketing.

After moving to Novartis in 2019, she was responsible for the overall digital team, covering both omnichannel marketing and digital health solutions where she partnered with non-pharma companies to co-develop solutions for patients as well as caregivers. Believing in the potential of intersection of Digital and Healthcare, she joined Aculys in 2022 aspiring to deliver values to patients and the society leveraging data & digital.

She received bachelor’s degree in Environment and Information studies from Keio University.

Ryukan has a broad, 30-year experience in areas from development to regulatory affairs and quality assurance in the pharmaceutical industry. At Novartis Pharma K.K., he served as general marketing compliance officer as the General Manager of Quality Assurance of the company from 2017. At Sandoz K.K. (and later Aspen Japan K.K. as well), a Novartis group company, he was appointed as the Country Quality Head and oversaw quality assurance from 2018. In addition to leading quality improvement in group companies overall, he served as a member of the leadership team of the Asia, Oceania, Middle East, and Africa region and implemented in Japan an initiative to consolidate quality assurance activities in countries outside of Japan while also leading cultural exchange among regions. From 2021, he served as a member of the leadership team responsible of integrating group companies and contributed to the operation of the company.

Graduated Graduate School of current University of Shizuoka.
A road bike and vegetable gardening enthusiast.

Jim is an experienced pharmaceutical/biotech executive with nearly 40 years of industry experience.

Jim has held numerous commercially focused leadership positions, including Vice President Marketing, Sr Vice President Strategic Marketing, Executive Director Commercial Strategy and Executive Director Patient Support Services & Specialty Pharmacy Affairs.

Jim has participated in or led more than a dozen product launches, that have included market preparation and full life-cycle management. Jim has applied his skills and experience with a range of companies, including: Syntex, Roche/Genentech, Grey Healthcare, Neurex, Cellegy, Connetics and Jazz Pharmaceuticals. He has deep experience across a broad range of therapeutic categories including 12 years of experience working with Sleep Medicine related products which include: Xyrem and Sunosi.

Shinichiro brings 18 years’ experience in drug development especially as Project Leader and Regulatory Affairs Manager.

He previously served as Asia Pacific Regional Regulatory Leader at Janssen Pharmaceutical, especially responsible for neuroscience diseases such as Major Depressive Disorder and Multiple Sclerosis (2019-2021).

He developed most of his career in Novartis Pharma Japan. From 2016 to 2019, he served as Group Manager in the Regulatory Affairs Function Department and was responsible for maintaining/obtaining Marketing Authorization Holder, regulatory policy and process improvement. He also served as Regulatory Affairs Compound Responsible from 2013 to 2016 and Project Leader from 2008 to 2013. He worked for more than 30 compounds for these 8 years. Shinichiro also served as Project Manager (2007-2008), Portfolio Manager (2006) as well as Clinical Research Associate (2003-2006) in Novartis Pharma Japan.

He graduated from Graduate School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Tokyo Institute of Technology with a master degree in bioengineering.

Junichi brings 26 years’ experience in drug development from planning to operation in various therapeutic areas, such as oncology, cardiology, gynecology, ophthalmology, hematology.

Currently he is leading the clinical operations for Accerise, Chinese Bio-tech company. He is leading the establishment of the clinical operation team by setting up ICCC (In country Clinical Care-taker), forming the Operations Division of Accerise.

Prior to shifting his career to Bio-tech, he worked in clinical development department for Bayer for 25 years. He led the Clinical Trial Team and successfully managed Medical Experts, Data Managers, Statisticians CRAs and CROs and successfully negotiated with regulatory agents through, IND submission, PMDA consultations, NDA submission and registration.

He graduated from Toho University with a degree in molecule biology.

After joining Novartis Pharma K.K. as a new grad, Yasutomo worked in the company’s Safety Information Division; Package Insert Management Group, Regulatory Affairs Division; and Reexamination Division, primarily focusing on pharmacovigilance and post-marketing surveillance operations for ten years.
At the Safety Information Division, Yasutomo was in charge of the central nervous system area, an area which relates to his current work. He was also responsible for preparing and amending package inserts for the primary care, specialty medicines, oncology, and regenerative medicine areas at the Regulatory Affairs Divisions and for a broad range of operations including post-marketing surveillance planning to reexamination applications in the oncology area at the Reexamination Division. During the time, he actively participated in industry-wide initiatives and cross-functional taskforce activities and contributed to numerous achievements with internal and external associates, including authorship of a book.

Graduated Department of Biological Engineering, Graduate School of Basic Engineering, Tokyo University of Science.
A fan of hedgehogs.

Takuya brings 17 years’ commercial experience as Medical representative and Brand manager in various therapeutic area, such as Immunology, Allergy and Respiratory, in Novartis Pharma Japan.

Prior to joining Aculys, he served as a Marketing Group manager, leading the launch of new products and the new indications, as well as team management. Also, in order to meet the unmet medical needs of patients and caregivers, he collaborated with external partners to provide services and solutions which go “beyond the pill”, such as patient support and disease awareness program utilizing digital technology.

He graduated from Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture with a master degree in Bioscience.

Shin Kojima has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He assumed his current role after gaining experience at Eli Lilly Japan, Novartis Pharma in Japan, and Bristol Myers Squibb in Japan and has contributed to the organization growth of medical, R&D, commercial, and finance departments through his inclusive leadership.

Using the Lean Six Sigma approach for which he has acquired a black belt, he has improved operations and resolved issues in various areas within respective departments by means of cross-divisional projects. He has led a range of medical departments, including medical information and medical science liaison, and has driven digital transformation initiatives and patient support programs with external stakeholders.

After graduating the School of Law, Waseda University, Shin Kojima acquired an MBA from the IESE Business School, University of Navarra, an MPH from the Graduate School, International University of Health and Welfare, and a master’s degree from the Elliot School of International Affairs, The George Washington University.

He enjoys jogging, traveling, and visiting museums.

Shigeyuki Takakura has a 30-year experience in the pharmaceutical industry as MR, sales manager, and MSL group manager, including team management experience in primarily commercial and medical divisions.

He has contributed to delivering not only pharmacological therapies but also various treatment options and comprehensive medical solutions by proposing them to physicians and paramedicals in a broad range of departments and therapeutic areas including infectious diseases, allergic diseases, oncology, immunology, organ transplantation, rare diseases, and skin diseases.

Before joining ACULYS, Shigeyuki experienced diverse corporate business models and cultures at major North American and European pharmaceutical companies as well as Japanese and Indian pharmaceutical companies, including Schering-Plough, Novartis Pharma, Bioverativ, and Sun Pharma (where he was temporarily seconded to Pola Pharma).

Shigeyuki graduated Shinshu University. Enjoys a variety of hobbies including particularly cars, with current interests in mountain climbing and amateur radio.

Amane has abundant accounting and auditing experience and auditing qualification: U.S.C.P.A(State of Washington), Certified Internal Auditor. Amane has been about 10 years at Ernst and Young Shinnihon, knowledge about J-SOX, US-SOX, J-GAAP, US-GAAP, IFRS and multicultural experiences abroad. Also, he plays a key role in eCommerce business in Seiyu GK as an accountant and take a significant role in accounting department at Fringe81 Co. Ltd, a listed internet startup on Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE:6550) before joining Aculys.

Amane graduated from the with NUCB Business School and holds an Executive MBA degree. Also, he graduated Hitotsubashi University, Master of Public Policy (Public Economics).

Dr. Slingsby is Founder & Managing Partner at Catalys Pacific. He served as founding CEO during the creation and incubation of Aculys Pharma. Previous to Catalys Pacific, he founded the GHIT Fund – the world’s first public-private fund focused on the development of new medicines for low- and middle-income countries. Dr. Slingsby graduated from Brown University with honors, earned his MPH and PhD from Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, and received his MD with honors from the George Washington University; he has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles and currently serves as Invited Professor at the Graduate School of Medicine of Kyoto University and University of Osaka.

Mr. Takahashi is Managing Partner at Catalys Pacific. Prior to Catalys Pacific, he was an investment banker with Morgan Stanley for 12 years and played a significant role in over 30 distinguished transactions with an enterprise value of over US$15.0 billion. Prior to working for Morgan Stanley, Takeshi worked at Merrill Lynch’s asset management division.Takeshi graduated from Waseda University with a degree in Political Science and Economics, and holds an M.B.A. from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Proficiently bilingual and bicultural.

Nobuo currently serves as Industry Advisor to Catalys Pacific. Prior to joining Catalys, he was Representative Director, President and CEO at Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. from 2012 to 2018. Thereafter, he served as Representative Director, Chairman and CEO in 2018 and as Director and Chairman in 2019.

As CEO of Kyowa Kirin, he led the development and launch of numerous innovative drugs including mogamulizumab (Potelligent™) and benralizumab (Fasenra™). Nobuo also successfully realized multiple partnerships with Japanese and global pharmaceutical companies along with several M&A transactions of biotech companies outside Japan.

After joining Kyowa Hakko Kogyo in 1976, he led R&D activities of its antibodies. In 2003, he founded BioWa, Inc. in the US in order to license technology related to antibodies, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer and managed the company. After the inauguration of Kyowa Hakko Kirin, he led the development of various innovative compounds as a global head of R&D.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tokyo and a doctorate degree from Yamaguchi University.

Jay brings 35 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical/biotech and drug delivery industries with his extensive corporate leadership and multiple product successes to his role as Operating Partner. In addition to working for Catalys Pacific, he currently serves as Chairman of The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and is on the board of directors of Esperion Therapeutics, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, and Craig Hospital.

Prior to his current positions, he joined Versartis as President and CEO in May 2015. In 2018 when Versartis merged with Aravive, he became CEO of the newly formed company until January of 2020 when he retired. He was an Executive Partner at Sofinnova Ventures until May 2015. Previously, he served as President and CEO of NextWave Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Pfizer), Ilypsa (acquired by Amgen), and interim CEO of Relypsa (Ilypsa’s spin-out company, which was acquired by Galencia). He has participated in or led over 16 product launches by preparing markets and establishing sales and marketing operations, having served as Vice President of Commercial Operations at Telik and Alza Pharmaceuticals (acquired by Johnson & Johnson).

He holds a B.S. in business administration from the University of Arizona.

Ken Haas has spent 30 years in the management of both early-stage and public high technology and biotechnology companies. He has been with Abingworth since 2004 and currently serves as Partner.

He was part of the founding management team at IntelliGenetics, one of the world’s first bioinformatics companies and, from 1992 to 2001, was CEO of IntelliCorp, a publicly-traded enterprise software company.

At the beginning of his career he practised as an attorney in the business and technology group of Heller, Ehrman, White & McAuliffe, and has been Co-Chair of the Advisory Council to the Neuroscience Institute at Stanford.

He received his BA from Harvard College, an MA from the University of Sussex, a JD from Harvard Law School and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

SB Investment Advisers (Vision Fund) Vice President. Started the career at Goldman Sachs Asia Special Situations Group and Principal Strategic Investments, experiencing multi asset class investments. Led a corporate turnaround at SBI Japannext as Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director. Became a founding partner of YCP Holdings Ltd (listed on TSE Mothers in 2021), a strategic consulting company, and led the start up of the company and overseas expansion. Afterwards became Director CEO of ABC Cooking Studio Worldwide Ltd, a retail store chain operator, expanded in 8 countries in Asia. Joined Softbank Group in 2019, making investments in US, India and Japan at Principal Investment Department, then moved to Softbank Investment Advisers (Vision Fund) in 2021.

Erika brings an extensive experience for ten years as a professional of accounting and corporate governance. She was a member of Pricewaterhouse Coopers Japan (PwC Arata) before joining Aculys Pharma, Inc.

She was in charge of statutory audits of Financial Statement and Internal Control for many financial institutions including banks, securities, investment funds and cryptcurrency exchanges. She also led advisory projects to success, where her team engaged in the reinforcement of internal control, the optimization of segregation of duties, the reconstruction of business process in response to the changes in tax laws and financial regulations and the replacement of financial instrument management system along with defining the system requirements.

She graduated from Waseda University with a degree in commerce and is certified as a public accountant (CPA) of Japan.

Obtained BA at Loyola College in USA in 1971 and MBA at Sophia University in Japan in 1975. Also attended Advanced Management Program of Harvard Business School in 1992.

Masao Torii started his career in Nippon Roche K. K., a Japanese affiliate of Swiss pharmaceutical company in 1971 where he assumed increasing responsibilities up to Managing Director.

From 1993 till 2020, he had been President of Japanese affiliates of 4 global pharmaceutical companies, i.e., Rhone-Poulenc Roller, Inc.(French), Schering-Plough K. K.(American), Boehringer Ingelheim Japan (German) and Novartis Holding Japan K. K. (Swiss). He retired from Chairman of Novartis Pharma K.K. in 2021.

Obtained LL.B. in 2002 and LL.M. in 2005 at Keio University in Japan, LL.M. in 2012 at University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law in the United States. Qualified lawyer in Japan (admitted in 2006) and in the New York, United States (admitted in 2013). With Rajah & Tann LLP, Singapore (2012-2013) and seconded to Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. (2013-2014).　Made partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto in 2018. Joined GAIEN PARTNERS in 2023.

Yuko is a partner from GAIEN PARTNERS. She is well-versed in advising and representing clients in a wide range of domestic and international disputes, including litigation, arbitration and labor tribunal proceedings. She also regularly advises clients on a range of corporate matters, such as formulation and implementation of internal rules, regulations and systems, and also product liability and personal information matters. Based on her experience at a top Japanese manufacturing company, she communicates and works very closely with clients to find and realize the best solutions for them.