The company plans to quickly expand the number of employees in London and has recently made several key appointments: Dr Marco Renoldi, Dr Suhail Nurbhai, Dr Mark Sampson, Nina Strenitz and Joe Gaugas.

Shionogi marked its launch in Europe with a prestigious event in central London attended by key members of the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, with talks from Lord Darzi of Denham, Imperial College London); Mr Martin Donnelly, permanent secretary for the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills; Mr Kit Malthouse, deputy mayor for business and enterprise; Professor Andrea Genazzani, professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Pisa, Italy; Professor Brian Gazzard, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London; and Mr Isao Teshirogi, president and CEO of Shionogi.