Tanabe Research Labs Commences Operations At San Diego Facility

TRL started its new operations in May by appointing three new executives, Masaki Yamada as CEO, Toshihiro Hosaka as senior vice president and Roland Newman as VP and chief scientific officer of the company.

Eralier, in 1985, Dr Yamada has joined the predecessor to MTPC and is presently managing research projects, portfolio and alliances within MTPC.

Dr Hosaka entered the pharmaceutical industry in 1993 as a medicinal chemist and project manager for the predecessor to MTPC.

Dr Newman, co-inventor and co-developer of Rituxan and other antibody based therapeutics, brings with him over 30 years of experience in biochemistry, immunology and molecular biology research and business development in both academic and commercial settings.

TRL stated that in its new form it is expected to focus on antibody and biological approaches to target specific immune cells and soluble factors, along with investigating new methods for modulating immune cell functions.

Dr Yamada said: “There is a great deal of relevant scientific know-how in the San Diego region and many opportunities to collaborate with others in pursuing success in similar areas of research. We believe the new focus on biologicals are expected to be very rewarding.”

Dr Newman said: “TRL will not only build in-house research programs, but establish collaborative relationships with other companies and academic research organisations to further its goals of identifying preclinical leads for further development. TRL is expected to continue to re-focus its efforts in immunology in the short term and expand into other areas, including oncology, in the future.”