As part of its "Transformation into a New Takeda", Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") has implemented several strategies to realize its corporate vision of achieving "sustainable growth" by 2015 through "innovation" and "culture". The latest development came with the recent closing of the Nycomed acquisition, whereby Takeda took another significant step towards globalization. Today, Takeda announces the establishment of the positions of Chief Medical & Scientific Officer (CMSO) and Chief Commercial Officer (CCO), to strengthen the company's governance and business operations as it moves forward to fully integrate the Nycomed organization and become a truly global pharmaceutical company.

In order to further strengthen its global research and development activities, Takeda has abolished the position of Chief Scientific Officer and established the new position of CMSO. Takeda board member Dr. Tadataka Yamada, a medical doctor and scientist with vast global experience in pharmaceutical R&D, has been appointed CMSO to boost research and development productivity by driving innovation and skillfully allocating resources.

In addition, the positions of International Operations (Americas/Europe) and International Operations (North Asia) have been abolished to be replaced by the CCO, who will preside over Takeda's global sales structure (with the exclusion of Millennium and Japanese domestic sales), including most former Nycomed countries and functions. Takeda has appointed board member Dr. Frank Morich as CCO, who has extensive experience at top management in the global pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Morich will drive sales strategies in the important US and EU markets, and also in the fast-growing emerging markets.

Takeda is continually challenging itself to create innovative medicines that transform treatment paradigms to prevent and cure disease, focusing particularly on fields with unmet medical needs, and will continue to globalize its business to deliver its products to patients and health care providers worldwide.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda (TSE:4502) is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products.