Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited has announced that John Tsai, MD will take over as Global Head of Research and Development beginning April 1, 2026. He succeeds Ken Takeshita, MD, who will step down from the role as part of a leadership transition at the company. The appointment comes as the Tokyo listed drugmaker continues to strengthen its global research capabilities and advance its long term innovation strategy.
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Dr. Tsai joins Daiichi Sankyo from Syncona Investment Management, a venture capital firm focused on life sciences, where he served as an Executive Partner. In that role, he helped launch biotechnology companies built on emerging scientific discoveries and supported their operational growth. His work spanned oncology, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease, giving him broad therapeutic experience that aligns with Daiichi Sankyo’s expanding pipeline.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Tsai held senior leadership positions at Novartis AG, where he was President and Head of Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer. During his tenure, he oversaw a large portfolio of development programs and hundreds of clinical studies that led to multiple global product approvals. His leadership contributed to the advancement of innovative platforms including gene and radioligand therapies. He also served as Chief Medical Officer at Amgen and led late stage development programs at Bristol Myers Squibb, building extensive expertise in clinical development and medical affairs. Dr. Tsai earned his medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
Hiroyuki Okuzawa, President and CEO of Daiichi Sankyo, said that Dr. Tsai’s background in advancing scientific innovation and delivering approved medicines will support the company’s next phase of growth. He added that the organization appreciates Ken Takeshita’s leadership in reshaping the global R&D structure and strengthening its antibody drug conjugate portfolio, and wished him success in his future endeavors.
John Tsai said that joining Daiichi Sankyo at a transformative moment in its journey is a privilege. He noted that the company has established a strong scientific foundation and expressed his commitment to expanding its research efforts and accelerating the development of new therapies that can make a meaningful difference for patients worldwide.
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