Creating New Connections for Growth in Australia

Daiichi Sankyo is engaged in significant clinical trial activity in Australia. As part of our ongoing transformation to being recognized as a global oncology leader, we recently expanded our formal presence in Australia and established an office to focus on connecting more Australians to our antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology. The guest of honor at the inauguration was Daiichi Sankyo’s CEO, Sunao Manabe.

“It was my first visit to Australia, but it will not be the last,” said the CEO. “We have an obligation to deliver the potential of our ADCs to Australian patients as quickly as possible. We look forward to continued collaboration with our partners and some of the world’s best cancer researchers and clinical experts to realize this responsibility.”

Also making the trip “down under” for the Australian inauguration was our Head of Global Research & Development, Ken Takeshita. Commenting on his brief but fruitful visit to Australia, Ken said, “The strength of Australia’s R&D is impressive, with the research infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that enable rapid approval and commencement of clinical trials. We want to foster strong collaboration with Australian experts to identify the next generation of breakthroughs in cancer treatment as we continue to progress our pipeline.”

The employee experience also extends beyond the office setting, with the Australian business embedding flexibility to support its people to be there in the moments that matter for their families, no matter what form their families may take. This includes flexible and hybrid working arrangements, progressive paid parental leave, enhanced compassionate leave and support for pregnancy loss, as well as additional leave and wellbeing options for other life stages.

These family-focused policies have already earned certification as a “Family Inclusive Workplace” in record-time. The National Work + Family Standards developed by Family Friendly Workplaces and endorsed by UNICEF Australia provide a benchmark for policies and practices in a number of areas, notably including flexible work practices and parental leave, family care and wellbeing, among others.

With roots firmly planted in Australia, the local team is looking forward to expanding further in the coming years and making a difference for Australians impacted by cancer.