Bangalore, May 28, 2007: Tokyo-based Sosei Group Corporation has changed its Board of Directors subject to the approval of the shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meeting in June 2007. The new non-executive directors include Dr Declan Doogan, Mr Eiji Katayama, Dr Alan Lewis and Mr Isao Muramatsu.

 

Dr Declan Doogan was, until recently, head of worldwide development for Pfizer Global Research and Development based in New York. Dr Doogan's career with Pfizer spanned 25 years in various medical and R&D positions. During this time, Dr Declan spent almost five years in Japan most recently as Senior Vice President of Development, Pfizer, Japan. Currently Declan is Visiting Professor of Drug Development Science at Kitasato University, Tokyo.

 

Mr Eiji Katayama, an Attorney at Law (in Japan and the US) and a Patent Attorney, is a partner with the Tokyo law firm Abe, Ikubo and Katayama. Currently Eiji is also a non-executive director of Seikagaku Corporation and an auditor of Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation. Eiji's career also includes Fujisawa Pharmaceutical (now Astellas Pharma).

 

Dr Alan Lewis was President and CEO of Signal Pharmaceuticals Inc in the USA. When Celgene Corporation acquired Signal, Dr Lewis became President, Signal Research Division, Celgene. Before that, he spent 15 years with Wyeth most recently as Vice President of Research, Wyeth-Ayerst. Currently Alan is President and CEO of Novocell.

 

Mr Isao Muramatsu was president and representative director of SmithKline Beecham, Japan and then board member of Glaxo SmithKline, Japan and he has over 30 years experience within the pharmaceutical industry. Currently Isao is a non-executive director of Santen Pharmaceutical and Chairman of IWNC.

 

Dr Robin Bannister is named as the new Executive Director. He is the founder of Arakis, the company acquired by Sosei in 2005. Currently, Robin is Managing Director of Sosei R&D Ltd (previously Arakis) and Executive Vice President, Sosei Group Corporation. Previously Dr Robin was with Celltech, Chiroscience and SmithKiline Beecham.

 

Existing directors Dr David Chiswell and Sir Mark Richmond have decided not to stand for re-appointment. In addition to the above, Mr Shinichi Tamura, President and CEO, and Mr Takuya Fujii, Non-Executive Director, have been recommended for re-appointment to the board by the Nominations Committee.

 

The proposed changes reflect the company's objective of becoming a leading global biotech company with a Japanese origin and the expectation that as Sosei moves closer towards revenue generation it will expand globally, especially in the USA.