Catalys Pacific Strengthens Company Creation Team with New Industry Advisor
Tokyo, Japan – June 19, 2020
Catalys Pacific announced that Dr. Nobuo Hanai has joined the team at Catalys Pacific as Industry Advisor. He will focus on creating new life sciences venture companies and advising portfolio companies for growth and further development.
Nobuo was Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer at Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (previously known as Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd.) from 2012 to 2018. Thereafter, he served as Representative Director, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 2018 and as Director and Chairman in 2019.
As CEO of Kyowa Kirin, he led the development and launch of a series of innovative drugs including mogamulizumab (Potelligent™️) and benralizumab (Fasenra™️). Nobuo also successfully realized multiple partnerships with Japanese and global pharmaceutical companies along with several acquisition transactions of biotech companies outside of Japan.
After joining Kyowa Hakko Kogyo in 1976, he led R&D of its antibodies. In 2003, he founded BioWa, Inc. in the US aimed to license antibody technology, where he served as President and Chief Executive Officer and led the growth of the company. After the inauguration of Kyowa Hakko Kirin, he served as Global Head of R&D resulting in the development of multiple innovative compounds.
Nobuo received his undergraduate degree from the University of Tokyo and his Ph.D. from Yamaguchi University.
“We are delighted to welcome Nobuo to our team, who brings decades of experience in the development of large molecules and executive leadership. Nobuo is a successful entrepreneur having founded and led BioWa in the US, and a progressive intrapreneur having transformed Kyowa Kirin as a leading innovative company.,” said BT Slingsby, Founder & Managing Partner of Catalys Pacific.
“I believe partnership in R&D between large pharma, biotech, and academia is vital to accelerate global innovation for patients. I look forward to working with Catalys Pacific to realize stronger partnerships to galvanize life science R&D across the Pacific. ,” said Nobuo.
About Catalys Pacific
Catalys Pacific is an independent venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments in life sciences. Founded in 2019, the firm’s mission is to focus on providing healthcare solutions for patients worldwide through the creation of and investment in bioventure companies. Catalys Pacific is led by a global team versed in working closely with its partners in academia, biotech, venture capital and the pharmaceutical industry in Japan and worldwide. The firm maintains offices in Tokyo and Kanagawa (Shonan Health Innovation Park), Japan and in San Francisco, California.
Please see https://catalyspacific.com for more information.