Masanori Sato

Head, Japan/APAC Center for External Innovation
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited

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Masanori has been leading CEI (Center for External Innovation) Japan/APAC at Takeda Pharmaceutical since 2021. As regional representative of CEI, a highly integrated function encompassing capabilities on search and evaluation, transactions, alliance management and venture investment, his team is tasked with building partnerships across Japan, Asia and Pacific region (except for China), with the aim of accelerating Takeda R&D through diverse and flexible partnering models. The scope of such partnerships spans Takeda’s key therapeutic areas of interest including oncology, neuroscience and gastrointestinal and inflammatory diseases, and ranges from early academic research to early-stage clinical collaborations. 

Prior to joining Takeda, he served as JPAC BD Head of Sanofi for 4 years and led licensing transactions as well as search function for innovative programs/technologies across JAPAC region including Taiwan. 

He embarked on his career in pharmaceutical industry at JT Pharma where he spent 25 years, the latest role there being BD Head leading licensing transactions or alliance management with major global pharma, such as Gilead, Novartis, Roche and MSD. Prior to BD assignment, he led multiple pre-clinical/clinical programs originated in JT Pharma. Of them, HIV programs resulted in R&D and commercial success as a blockbuster product around the world.

Masanori is a graduate of Kyoto University in Japan where he received a Bachelor of Agriculture.

 

Speech title & Synopsis

Takeda's Partnering Strategy to Access Emerging Innovations across Asia-Pacific

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