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TOKYO, April 27, 2026 – Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, “Astellas”) today announced the following personnel change in its Top Management, effective from July 1, 2026.
■ Appointment of new Chief Strategy Officer (CStO)
Takahiko Iwaya will join Astellas on July 1, 2026 and will be appointed as the new CStO as of July 1, 2026. He joined the former Ministry of Health and Welfare (now the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare) in 1990 and was involved in healthcare systems and policies for approximately 14 years. In 2004, he joined Johnson & Johnson K.K. in Japan. From 2012, he held various leadership roles at Janssen Pharma, a J&J group company, including Head of Sales & Marketing Excellence and Commercial Affairs and Head of Immunology, Chronic Pain and Infectious Diseases Business Unit. Subsequently, in 2019, he joined Sanofi K.K. as Head of Specialty Care Business Unit in Japan and has served as President and Representative Director since January 2020 (scheduled to step down in June 2026). Additionally, he has served as Chair of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, Japan (EFPIA Japan) since September 2021 (scheduled to step down in June 2026). He possesses deep expertise in healthcare policy and the prescription pharmaceutical business cultivated in both the public and private sectors, as well as strong management and business promotion capabilities in global companies.
Top Management (Effective July 1, 2026)
| Name | Title |
| Naoki Okamura | Representative Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) |
| Katsuyoshi Sugita | Representative Director, Executive Vice President Chief People Officer (CPO) |
| Tadaaki Taniguchi, M.D., Ph.D. | Chief Research & Development Officer (CRDO) |
| Rao Mantri, Ph.D. | Chief Manufacturing Officer (CMfgO) |
| Claus Zieler | Chief Commercial & Medical Affairs Officer (CCMAO) |
| Takahiko Iwaya | Chief Strategy Officer (CStO) |
| Atsushi Kitamura | Chief Financial Officer (CFO) |
| Tatjana Dragovic | General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer (GC & CECO) |
About Astellas
Astellas is a global life sciences company committed to turning innovative science into value for patients. We provide transformative therapies in disease areas that include oncology, ophthalmology, urology, immunology and women's health. Through our research and development programs, we are pioneering new healthcare solutions for diseases with high unmet medical need. Learn more at www.astellas.com.
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas’ intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
Contacts for inquiries or additional information:
Astellas Pharma Inc.
Corporate Communications
+81-3-3244-3201
(Reference)
Curriculum Vitae of new Chief Strategy Officer (CStO)
Name: Takahiko Iwaya
| Career History: | |
| September 2021 | Chair, EFPIA Japan (resigned as of end of June 2026) |
| August 2020 | Vice Chair, EFPIA Japan |
| January 2020 | President and Representative Director, Sanofi K.K. (resigned as of end of June 2026) |
| September 2019 | Head of Specialty Care Business Unit, Sanofi K.K. Japan |
| October 2014 | Head of Immunology, Chronic Pain and Infectious Diseases Business Unit, Janssen Pharma K.K. |
| December 2012 | Head of Sales & Marketing Excellence and Commercial Affairs, Janssen Pharma K.K. |
| July 2004 | Joined Johnson & Johnson K.K. (Japan) |
| April 1990 | Joined the former Ministry of Health and Welfare |
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