Dr Toshinori Agatsuma regretfully passed away on December 5, 2024. However, in memory and recognition of his patience, scientific expertise, and compassionate leadership, which altered the trajectory of Daiichi Sankyo into a company with competitive advantage in oncology, we have decided to leave this story up on our website as a testament to Dr. Agatsuma’s rich legacy and critical importance to the history of the Daiichi Sankyo group of companies.
Cancer affected Toshinori Agatsuma, PhD, at an early age as his father passed away from leukemia when he was only seven years old. Curiosity and inquisitiveness combined with his desire to help people, particularly those affected by cancer, pushed Dr. Agatsuma to pursue science and medicine as his contribution to making the world a better place.
Following his extensive scientific training leading to a PhD focused on oncology and immuno-oncology medicine development from Tohoku University, Dr. Agatsuma joined what was then Sankyo in 1991, where he began his impressive career in the pharmacologic evaluation of anti-HIV agents at the discovery and preclinical stages. After spending time abroad in the UK at the MRC Collaborative Centre, where he learned more about the intersection of science and business, Dr. Agatsuma returned to Japan, making the transition into oncology research and beginning his focus on the discovery of novel cancer targets using a genomics approach.
Strong intuition served as a catalyst for company transformation
Several years before the 2007 merger of the companies Daiichi and Sankyo, Dr. Agatsuma convinced senior management to make an investment in his hypothesis that antibody-based drugs were the future of medicine and should become a pillar of Daiichi Sankyo research and development efforts, and he started a laboratory dedicated to this area of research with only four team members.
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“People at the time thought this area of antibody-based drug discovery research would be extremely challenging as other companies already were more advanced in this area, including some with approved antibody-based medicines. They thought I was out of my mind.”
- Toshinori Agatsuma, Corporate Officer, Global Head, Oncology Research, Daiichi Sankyo
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ASCO attendees who were moved to give a standing ovation
Unfazed and determined, Dr Agatsuma worked over the next roughly two decades to not only build the strategic direction of antibody research at Daiichi Sankyo, but also became the initial team leader overseeing the development of Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary antibody drug conjugate (ADC) drug-linker technology.
Now referred to as the new ADC technology, there are five ADCs crafted with this technology in clinical development as of July 2022 with one which is being marketed in many countries worldwide for the treatment of various HER2 targetable cancers. This HER2 directed ADC reported out historic breast cancer data during the Plenary Session of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (#ASCO22), resulting in standing ovation from the audience.
“I could have never imagined the science emerging from one small laboratory could be significant enough to transform a company, and but more importantly lead to such impressive results in treating patients with cancer,” continued Dr. Agatsuma. “These achievements could not have been realized without a team of incredibly talented people, which is what I am most proud of at Daiichi Sankyo—our people.”
Strong, passionate culture incubated within research labs
Now a Corporate Officer, Dr. Agatsuma is the global head of oncology research and oversees two very large oncology research laboratories consisting of biologists, chemists, and pharmacologists responsible for the discovery and research efforts in oncology at Daiichi Sankyo.
With a team-oriented culture that places emphasis on creativity and insistence on perfection, the oncology research team continues to refine Daiichi Sankyo’s ADC technology, crafting second and third-generation ADCs. The team also is working diligently to discover new targets or unique pathways to design bispecific antibodies, immuno-oncology agents and small molecules in order to further advance treatments for patients with cancer.
“Our unique culture allows team members to keep challenging one another to push the boundaries of science,” said Dr. Agatsuma.
“Our team has an insatiable passion for the pursuit of new science and technology to discover the medicines of tomorrow.”