Shinichi Tamura re-takes CEO role at Sosei

Sosei has announced that its founder and former CEO Shinichi Tamura will be re-taking the position of CEO as of next year.

Current President & CEO Peter Bains will step down on 31 December 2018. He will also resign as a director of the Company simultaneously. Tamura, currently executive chairman, will become chairman, president & CEO effective as of 1 January 2019.

In a statement the company said that the re-appointment of Tamura as CEO provides “a seamless transition that enables the company to continue pursuing its strategic plan, aiming to realise its vision to be a leading Japan-based biotech champion delivering innovative medicines for patients worldwide.  We will continue to invest in R&D and promote our leading scientific platform, portfolio and business globally.”

The company is currently investigating an Alzheimer's drug with Allergan, though trials recently had to be halted after an unexpected toxicology finding in an animal study. Earlier in the year, Teva broke off its partnership with Sosei over migraine drug HTL0022562, although the Japanese firm said it would continue to investigate the drug by itself.

Tamura added: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Peter for all his hard work and enthusiasm in leading the company over the past couple of years and wish him well in his future endeavours. As a Board member, Peter was instrumental in the acquisition of Heptares Therapeutics in February 2015, which has transformed the company and its prospects. While CEO, he has played a key role in the integration of Heptares and the further development of the overall Sosei Heptares business. We are well positioned to execute on our strategy to pursue profitability and advance our partnered and in-house pipelines and I look forward to announcing further progress in the future.”

Tamura has over 40 years experience in the pharma industry, having worked at companies such as Genentech and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical (now Astellas Pharma).

He founded Sosei Group Corporation in 1990 as a technology transfer company. From 2012-2016 he was managing director of Sosei R&D, and has since worked as chairman of the Board, representative executive officer and executive chairman of Sosei Group Corporation.