“We intend to establish Takeda India as a CoE in clinical research”

Japanese multinational pharmaceutical company Takeda announced the appointment of Koki Sato as the Head for the company’s India business on April 1, 2020. Sato has been a part of Takeda since 2003 and has grown within the company to hold various senior international roles across multiple functions, including commercial operations, finance, and HR. Prior to this role, he was the General Manager of Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova (UBM) Cluster in Takeda’s ICMEA (India, C.I.S., Middle East, Turkey, and Africa) area. BioSpectrum India took this opportunity to interact with Koki Sato, General Manager (GM), Takeda Pharmaceuticals India Pvt. Ltd to find out more about the growth of the India business at Takeda.

- Dr Manbeena Chawla

How has been the growth of Takeda India since its inception in 2011? What changes are you planning to bring under your leadership?

Takeda has been steadily growing in the country since 2011. Takeda expanded its footprint and portfolio in India with the acquisition of Shire Pharmaceuticals in 2019. In FY 2019, Takeda India achieved a strong double-digit growth with the team’s relentless commitment to patients and business. Our immunology and haematology businesses have led our growth across the country and have maintained their leadership positions in the market. We also launched our genetic disease (GD) portfolio to augment our commitment to patients suffering from rare diseases in India. As we move forward, our vision is to increase momentum in serving the patient needs through our innovative therapies. We have a strong Access to Medicine (AtM) strategy that is fundamental to our philosophy to address the broader structural barriers that prevent patients in underserved communities from receiving the care and treatment they deserve. With my appointment, I will look at supporting the team in India to further bolster our commitment to patients, build trust with the key stakeholders across the ecosystem, strengthen our reputation in the country and drive the business to newer heights.

What are the major initiatives in store to ensure affordable and accessible healthcare delivery in India?