Management team

Research & Development Division Head

Tsuyoshi Maekawa

Tsuyoshi Maekawa has more than 25 years’ experience in medicinal chemistry research and has created multiple clinical trial compounds. Applied numerous patents and published multiple papers. He has strong ties with several medicinal chemistry-related CRO, CMO, and CDMO both home and abroad. Strengths in taking the leadership of our distinguished researchers.
He holds an MSc in Science from Osaka City University, a PhD in Pharmacy from Kanazawa University, and is a PhD researcher at the University of California, Irvine.

Research & Development Division
Drug Discovery Chemistry Laboratory

Shizuo Kasai

Shizuo Kasai has engaged in medicinal chemistry research and served a wide range of roles from initial hit compound identification to candidate compound development. Mainly involved in drug discovery in the cardiovascular and metabolic areas, he has contributed to the creation of multiple candidate compounds for development. Applied numerous patents, published multiple papers and made several conference presentations both home and abroad.
He graduated from Hokkaido University and holds PhD in Pharmacy from Hokkaido University.

Research & Development Division
Drug Discovery Chemistry Laboratory

Toshitake Kobayashi

Toshitake Kobayashi has engaged in medicinal chemistry research and led cross-functional drug discovery projects. He has abundant experience in drug discovery in the areas of cardiovascular disease, oncology, inflammatory disease, and autoimmune disease as well as functional analysis research on orphan GPCRs. Applied numerous patents, published multiple papers and made several conference presentations both home and abroad.
He graduated from the University of Tokyo, MSc in Science from the University of Tokyo. PhD in Pharmacy from the Teikyo University.

Research & Development Division
Drug Discovery Chemistry Laboratory

Shigemitsu Matsumoto

Shigemitsu Matsumoto has been involved in medicinal chemistry research in the areas of oncology, central nervous system disease, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease. He has experience in conducting research at a US pharmaceutical company and in the management of the overseas CRO.
He has made a contribution to the creation of clinical trial compound and our Preclinical Compound (SCO-116). His strengths include good communication skills, drug design, and organic synthetic chemistry.
He holds an MSc and PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Tohoku University. Pharmacist.

Research & Development Division Biology Laboratory

Masanori Watanabe

Masanori Watanabe has led numerous projects with wide and abundant experience in nonclinical studies including target hunting and identification. His strengths lie in R&D experience with a wide range of modalities.
He holds an MSc in Medical Science from the University of Tsukuba.

Research & Development Division Biology Laboratory

Yusuke Moritoh

Yusuke Moritoh has consistently engaged in R&D of drug discovery. Wide experience and strengths in drug target identification, MoA* analysis, pharmacology, IND* applications, publication and conference presentations.
He holds an MSc and PhD in Medical Science from Osaka University.

*MoA: Mode of Action
*IND: Investigational New Drug

Senior Science Fellow

Yukio Yamada

Yukio Yamada previously served as the Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disease Drug Discovery Unit Head at Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. He has extensive experience in the cardiovascular and metabolic area, including the creation successful launch of multiple clinical compounds, the development of clinical assets, licenses, and joint research.
He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, holds an MSc in Agriculture from Kyushu University, and a PhD in Medical Science from Osaka University.

Research & Development Division Clinical Development

Takuya Saiki

Takuya Saiki has experience and track record in clinical planning, project management such as domestic and overseas development, pharmaceutical affairs, and CMC in the renal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal areas.
He holds an MSc in Pharmacy from Kyoto Pharmaceutical University and an MBA from Business Breakthrough University. Pharmacist.

Research & Development Division Clinical Development

Tomoya Kagawa

Tomoya Kagawa has been engaged in clinical development, marketing, and medical affairs activities for many years. He has a wide range of experience related to the value chain of products in cardiometabolic and renal areas from early compound evaluation to development strategy/study planning, approval application, and LCM/launch support activities.
He holds a PhD in Medicine from Osaka University and is a clinical technologist.

Business Development

Kenichi Anai

Kenichi Anai has strengths in global licensing and alliance management, including opportunity search and evaluation, contract negotiation as well as management of partnerships.
MSc in Agricultural and Life Sciences from the University of Tokyo.
He holds an MSc in Agricultural and Life Sciences from the University of Tokyo.

Corporate Strategy Division Head

Keiichi Kiyota

Keiichi Kiyota has over twenty years of management experience in biotech companies with IPO experience as a Chief Financial Officer.
He has core experience around general management control including equity finance, venture management strategies, internal management system establishment, and corporate governance.
He graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Meiji University and earned an MBA from Hosei University.

Corporate Strategy Division

Naoyuki Kawanishi

Naoyuki Kawanishi served in a Big 4 accounting firm, a specialized trading company, and a biotech company, where he experienced initial public offering. Strengths in financial control including disclosure of financial reports and budgeting.
He graduated from the Faculty of Business Administration, Kobe University. Certified public accountant.

Steven R. Smith, M.D.

Chief Scientific Officer/SVP, Florida Hospital Research Service
Scientific Director, Translational Institute for Metabolism & Diabetes
Past President of The Obesity Society

Randy J. Seeley, Ph.D.

H.K. Ransom Professor of Surgery, Internal Medicine and Nutritional Sciences
University of Michigan
Director, Michigan Nutrition Obesity Research Center (MNORC)

Seigo Izumo, M.D.

Former Senior Vice President & Global Head, Regenerative Medicine Unit, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd.
Former Vice President & Global Head of Cardiovascular Disease Area, Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, USA
Former Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA