Otsuka makes top-level changes

Japanese pharmaceutical group Otsuka has announced several changes to its management.

A meeting on June 25th saw the decision to appoint Taro Iwamoto as president and representative director confirmed.

He succeeds Tatsuo Higuchi, who held office from June 2000. The company said Mr Iwamoto will bring “strong leadership” in addition to expertise in a number of industry areas.

Otsuka added that the change is aimed at fulfilling the firm’s objective to become global and “value-creating”.

Meanwhile, the recent meeting of shareholders also resulted in changes across the board, with four fellow newly appointed members in addition to Mr Iwamoto.

Antoni Villaro Martin will be the new managing director for Otsuka’s European operations and Masayuki Umeno will take the role of vice-president for the company’s International Asia Arab division.

The news comes following a statement earlier this month regarding a partnership between Otsuka and UCB.

The companies agreed to co-develop and co-promote Keppra and Cimzia in Japan.