Medicinal chemists
Senior Taiho chemistry leads who have run discovery programs through to clinical candidate. Available for chemistry reviews, structure-activity diligence, and lead-optimization conversations.
TEAM
The partnership.
Five partners, all of them ex-Taiho operators. The same names show up to the first board meeting and to every one after.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Five partners. All of them ex-Taiho operators.
The partnership is small on purpose. Whoever shows up to your first board meeting is the person who keeps showing up — through the next round, the next readout, and the next strategic decision. Five names, all of them carrying operating time at Taiho Pharmaceutical before they wrote a check.
01
Sakae Asanuma, CFA, MBA
President & CEO
Founding President, Taiho Ventures (2016). Previously Astellas Venture Management.
Sakae Asanuma established Taiho Ventures as the founding President in 2016. With a distinguished career in venture capital and executive management, he has been instrumental in shaping the biotech investment landscape.
Before founding Taiho Ventures, Sakae served as President and CEO at Astellas Venture Management and as US Head of Astellas Innovation Management from 2011 to 2015. Prior to his tenure at Astellas, he worked at Yasuda Enterprise, a Japan/US-based VC firm, from 2000 to 2011.
Throughout his career, Sakae has invested in more than 60 biotech companies, with the majority of his portfolio achieving successful IPOs or M&As. Under his leadership at Taiho Ventures and Astellas, he executed numerous research collaboration deals with academia and biotech ventures, including several build-to-buy or spin-out initiatives. His strategic vision and extensive experience have made significant contributions to the growth and success of the biotech industry.
02
Seiji Miyahara, Ph.D.
Partner & Senior Investment Director
Ph.D. Life Science, Hokkaido University. Twelve years prior at Taiho Pharmaceutical oncology R&D.
Dr. Miyahara is a Partner & Senior Investment Director at Taiho Ventures, bringing more than 18 years of extensive experience in the life sciences industry. His expertise spans research and development, company creation, and venture capital investments across a wide range of modalities.
Since joining Taiho Ventures in 2016, Dr. Miyahara has served as a member of the board of directors or board observer for multiple Taiho portfolio companies, providing strategic guidance and oversight.
Before his tenure at Taiho Ventures, Dr. Miyahara spent 12 years at Taiho Pharmaceutical, primarily focusing on oncology. During this time, he played a pivotal role in advancing multiple programs to the clinical stage. Dr. Miyahara earned his PhD in Life Science from Hokkaido University, Japan.
03
Takaaki Ishii
Senior Investment Director
Molecular biologist. Led in-licensing of AB928 (A2aR/A2bR dual antagonist) from Arcus Biosciences.
Takaaki Ishii, a trained molecular biologist, joined Taiho Ventures in 2019. With more than 11 years of expertise in oncology, Takaaki has excelled in early-stage clinical development, product portfolio strategies, and scientific evaluations for both in-house and potential partnering programs across a diverse range of cancer types.
At Taiho Pharmaceutical, he made significant contributions, including the in-licensing of AB928 (A2aR/A2bR Dual Antagonist) from Arcus Biosciences. Additionally, he served a key role in medical and Medical Science Liaison activities for nab-paclitaxel (ABRAXANE®) and pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA®) in Japan.
04
Hidefumi Kasuga, Ph.D.
Investment Director
Ph.D. Pharmaceutical Science, University of Tokyo. Nine years at Taiho Pharmaceutical EGFR program.
Dr. Hidefumi Kasuga joined Taiho Ventures in 2022, bringing with him a wealth of experience in oncology drug discovery and development.
Prior to this role, Dr. Kasuga dedicated nine years to Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., where he specialized in developing compounds targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). His contributions in this area have been pivotal in advancing oncology therapeutics. Dr. Kasuga earned his PhD in Pharmaceutical Science from the University of Tokyo in 2013.
05
Takayuki Hirano, Ph.D.
Associate Investment Director
Ph.D. Engineering, Tokushima University. Non-clinical toxicology lead on Taiho oncology IND submissions.
Dr. Hirano joined Taiho Ventures in 2024, bringing with him more than 15 years of expertise in non-clinical drug development. His extensive experience encompasses toxicological evaluation of drug candidates during discovery and pre-clinical phases, as well as non-clinical project management.
As a lead toxicological scientist, Dr. Hirano has significantly contributed to the global development of oncology compounds, playing a crucial role in IND submissions and supporting clinical trials. He earned his PhD in Engineering from Tokushima University, Japan.
OPERATING PARTNERS
Plus the people we pull in.
A small partnership pulls in a larger bench. Operating partners are senior Taiho operators we bring into specific diligences, board conversations, and post-investment program reviews — not as a hands-off advisory roster, but as people who actually sit on the call.
Regulatory leads
Regulatory affairs operators who have walked Pre-IND, IND, end-of-phase II, and BLA conversations with FDA, PMDA, and EMA on commercial Taiho products.
Commercial heads
Taiho oncology and urology commercial leadership across the US, Europe, and Japan. The right people for a co-development or licensing conversation after a positive readout.
Biostatisticians
Trial-design and adaptive-design specialists, helpful when the question is whether the protocol you have is the protocol that actually answers the question.
MORE RESOURCES
Open roles
Investment-team hires and operating-partner attachments. Updated quarterly; happy to keep a warm intro on file.
Submit a proposal
A short form, a written response within ten business days. Including for the ones that are not a fit.
Press & corporate inquiries
Quarterly portfolio updates, the Taiho parent-company filings, and a press contact.