Nxera Pharma announces leadership team changes

Japanese drugmaker Nxera Pharma (TYO 4565) today announced two new appointments to its leadership team: Kiyoshi Kaneko, is appointed as chief commercial officer (CCO), and Mariko Nakafuji is promoted into the role of chief legal officer (CLO).

Mr Kaneko brings experience in business development, corporate strategy, marketing and commercial roles within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries in Japan. At AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN), he held the position of senior vice president for its commercial organization and corporate strategy in Japan, and prior to that, as SVP of its Primary Care business unit. Since 2017, he has been representative director and president of Luye Life Sciences Group Japan and has led strategic partnerships with Japanese life sciences companies working across pharmaceuticals, medical devices and hospital businesses. Mr Kaneko will take up the newly created position of CCO at Nxera and will be based in Japan.

Ms Nakafuji joined Nxera in 2021 as general counsel and played a key role in the company’s transformational acquisition of the Japan and South Korean businesses of Idorsia Pharmaceuticals (SIX: IDIA), as well as several other strategic projects.