Catalys Pacific Strengthens Company Creation Team with New Operating Partner
Catalys Pacific announced that Mr. Kazunari Tsunaba has joined the team at Catalys Pacific as Operating Partner. Kaz will contribute to our inbound strategy to create new biopharma companies in Japan and to eliminate the drug lag between Japan and other countries through new drug development.
Kaz served as President of Novartis Pharma Japan and a member of the Global Pharma Executive Committee, transforming Novartis Pharma Japan into a leading company with the excellence in integrity and innovation from 2017 to 2020. During his tenure at Novartis, he led the launch of seven new products in Japan including products in cell and gene therapies. Most recently he served as Executive Advisor with the company.
Prior to Novartis, he served as General Manager for Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong as well as Global Franchise Head for Bone, Muscle, and Joint and Country Head of Diabetes | Growth Hormone Business Unit at Eli Lilly Japan.
He graduated from the University of Tokyo with a B.A. in Economics, and holds an M.B.A. from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.
“We are delighted to welcome Kaz to our team. His passion, leadership, and charisma are unparalleled and we are excited to see Kaz bring this set of expertise to the creation of new biopharma companies in Japan.” said BT Slingsby, Founder & Managing Partner of Catalys Pacific.
“It is said that it’s difficult to create a Japan-based biotech that can work on a global scale. Based on the knowledge and experience I have cultivated in global pharma, I am looking forward to work with Catalys Pacific to contribute to patients suffering from various diseases through the transformation of life sciences in Japan.,” said Kaz.
About Catalys Pacific
Catalys Pacific is an independent venture capital firm focusing on early-stage investments in life sciences. The firm’s mission is to focus on providing healthcare solutions for patients worldwide through the creation of and investment in biotech 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 catalyspacific.com for more information.