Shionogi opens UK office
pharmafile | July 9, 2012 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | Crestor, Japan, Osaka, Shionogi, cholesterol
Japanese pharma firm Shionogi & Co has opened a new office in London and pledged to expand into Europe.
Osaka-based Shionogi has made the move as part of a five-year plan to grow its global business and plans to focus R&D efforts on infectious diseases, pain and metabolic syndrome.
“We aim to achieve our mission as a company with a strong presence in Europe, which conducts business operations recognised by patients, their families, healthcare providers and broader communities,” said Takashi Takenoshita, chief executive of Shionogi Europe.
Perhaps Shionogi’s most high profile drug so far is blockbuster cholesterol treatment Crestor, which started life as a new molecule licensed to AstraZeneca in 1998, and which Shionogi still markets in Japan.
The launch of the London office was attended by former Labour health minister Lord Darzi, the surgeon who led 2008’s NHS ‘Next Stage Review’ and London mayor Boris Johnson.
Johnson welcomed the company’s location in the capital, saying: “Shionogi will make a fantastic addition to London’s growing life sciences sector, which benefits from our top class universities and research centres, direct access to huge markets, a skilled cosmopolitan workforce, and fantastic connectivity.”
Shionogi has pointed to business infrastructure and support, talent pool, favourable lifestyle for staff and easy access to the continent as the main reasons for choosing London over other UK and European candidates.
In addition to Takenoshita, who was a former partner at the healthcare practice of management consultant McKinsey & Co, Shionogi has made a number of other senior appointments since the start of the year.
Chief commercial officer for Europe is Marco Renaldi, who joined Shionogi this month from Amgen International in Switzerland where he was executive director of oncology.
Suhail Nurbhai, most recently head of clinical science for Takeda global R&D, Europe, will join the London office as head of development for Europe, and Nina Strenitz – another McKinsey alumnus – has been made head of market access in Europe and worldwide.
Mark Sampson – formerly senior director of internal medical affairs at Gilead – has been appointed head of medical affairs and is responsible for establishing Shionogi’s medical team across European markets.
Finally, Joe Gaugas joined Shionogi last month as head of regulatory affairs and will lead the European regulatory strategy and operations function from Shionogi’s London office. He was previously in R&D roles at Pfizer in the UK & Japan.
Adam Hill
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