During its Pharma Days® on November 10 and 11, 2021, Otsuka will showcase its capabilities and approaches to collaboration, which enable the life sciences leader to connect healthcare communities, share knowledge and address some of our greatest healthcare challenges. To learn more about how Otsuka develops innovative collaborations, we sat down with John E. Kraus, Vice President of Global Clinical Development at Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
What is Otsuka’s approach to innovation?
At Otsuka, our driving philosophy is to serve those with unmet medical needs. Patient centricity ensures we deliver valuable and additive solutions that are easy for patients to adopt and integrate into their daily lives. But we won’t be able to do it alone and patients need and deserve innovation so that they may realize their full potential. By working together, we can inspire and achieve continued innovation across the industry to address the medical needs of patients, and more broadly across the entire healthcare delivery chain.
Why is Otsuka working with MassBio to support emerging companies?
Otsuka is a global healthcare company with the corporate philosophy: “Otsuka–people creating new products for better health worldwide.” Collaboration with other inventive companies enables us to connect healthcare communities, share knowledge and address challenges. When we support emerging companies with novel solutions, we have the potential to serve patients in a greater capacity.
Which therapeutic or R&D areas does Otsuka want to partner on? What types of companies or innovators does Otsuka want to partner with?
We collaborate with organizations that share a like-minded mission of delivering treatments to patients in the areas of neuroscience, nephrology, and digital innovation. Collaborators should share values of innovation, scientific rigor, and urgency to address unmet medical needs and thus make a meaningful impact on patients’ lives. We do not follow a “one-size-fits-all” approach; instead, we seek to collaborate with companies who share empathy and align on mutual goals, as well as mission and vision.
How will Otsuka help emerging companies grow their businesses?
Otsuka envisions a future that leverages the broad capabilities of emerging technology to advance health and wellness. One recent example of our commitment to helping emerging companies grow is the launch of Otsuka’s Digital Pioneer Initiative (ODPI). The ODPI was created to accelerate Otsuka’s digital health capabilities through active and strategic engagement with early-stage companies focused on improving mental health and well-being. The ODPI will focus its investments on digital health technologies such as augmented and virtual reality, artificial intelligence driven health agents, digital biomarkers, social support platforms, and mobile apps that include both prescription and non-prescription digital therapeutics.
Author Bio
John E. Kraus, M.D., Ph.D., DFAPA
Vice President of Global Clinical Development, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc.
John E. Kraus, M.D., Ph.D., DFAPA, is Vice President of Global Clinical Development for Otsuka Pharmaceutical Development & Commercialization, Inc. He has over 25 years of experience in clinical, academic, and pharmaceutical medicine and drug development.