Leveraging his experience in “drug discovery” and pharmacology research at his previous company, Kazunori was able to make an immediate impact upon joining the company and is now a Research Theme Leader in the R&D team for next-generation ADCs※.
Soon after receiving my Ph.D. from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at university, I joined a chemical manufacturer. After 10 years of research in the development of small-molecule compounds in the field of anticancer medicines, I joined Daiichi Sankyo in August 2021. Even during my previous employment, I had the impression that Daiichi Sankyo was a pharmaceutical company with a high level of “drug discovery” and research capability, achieving solid results from research to development in-house. I believe that Daiichi Sankyo’s strength and appeal lie in its robust portfolio of in-house products, including ADCs.
Working closely with other departments to raise the level of pharmacological studies
I am currently a Research Theme Leader in the R&D team working on next-generation ADCs in the field of cancer immunology. In addition to conducting pharmacological studies in our own department, we also collaborate with other departments on synthesis, pharmacokinetics, and safety to pursue our research theme. As a leader, my primary responsibilities include reporting our results to supervisors and answering inquiries from other departments.
Close collaboration with other departments is essential for making progress. Our medicinal chemists are incredibly competent and highly skilled at generating ideas, designing new compounds, and optimizing compounds. I communicate with them daily, and I make it a point to consult with them directly on even the most minor of details.
The opportunity to work with people from other specialized departments is one of the unique benefits of working at Daiichi Sankyo. This both expands my knowledge and helps me develop a broader perspective. Modalities such as ADCs, antibody medicines, and biologics become more complex, so I feel very fortunate to be able to conduct research while absorbing a wide range of knowledge.
Leveraging my experience soon after joining the company
Right after joining the company, I got the opportunity to use my background in drug discovery and pharmacology research to work on improving systems for evaluating the pharmacological activity of a medicine. I worked to develop and optimize experimental conditions for each material, such as cells, enzymes, and animals, to properly evaluate the pharmacological activity. Ensuring that the pharmacological activity of compounds is evaluated appropriately and accurately is essential to maximizing the potential of our outstanding medicinal chemists.
Within less than six months of joining the company, I successfully established a new pharmacological evaluation system. Through this experience, I gained a clearer understanding of the role I should play in creating better medicines. I feel that I am able to demonstrate originality by effectively combining my own experiences with the knowledge and technological foundations that Daiichi Sankyo has cultivated over the years.
Taking on the challenge of advancing to the next stage of research theme
Science-based discussions can open up opportunities regardless of your career history, and what really made me realize that I had joined Daiichi Sankyo was when I was asked to take the theme I was working on to the next stage. We need to advance a research theme toward submission for approval, and I experienced this stage-up proposal in June 2022. Having had this incredible opportunity just about 10 months after joining the company left a memorable impression on me as a significant experience.
A culture that values a hands-on approach, even at higher levels of responsibility
What struck me when I joined the company was that even researchers at higher levels of responsibility were still actively involved in laboratory work. At my previous workplace, people tended to move away from the research front line as they rose through the ranks.
In contrast, at Daiichi Sankyo, even busy executives maintain a hands-on approach to their work. When I ask for advice or opinions, I get feedback based on their own experience, and in some cases, they even participate in team experiments as follow-up members.
I feel that the cycle of doing thorough research in-house, creating products, and moving up the ladder at Daiichi Sankyo is well established, and I have come to realize that there is a culture where if you can argue your case based on science and it is correct, you will be immediately accepted regardless of your background or position. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for you to play an active role.
Learn more about Daiichi Sankyo's Research & Development at the following links