For Prospective Undergraduate and Graduate Students, Current Students, Alumni, Companies, Researchers, and Families | Science Topics | 2025/06/19
On Wednesday, June 4, the special lecture hosted by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, titled "The Current State of Global Drug Discovery and Japan's Challenges: An Industry Perspective," was held at the Middle Auditorium on the Shiba-Kyoritsu Campus. The event consisted of two parts: a keynote speech by Mr. Osamu Nagayama, Honorary Chairman (former President and CEO) of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and a member of the Board of Councillors of Keio University, and a ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION involving 115 participants, including current students and faculty members.
The lecture opened with remarks by Makoto Arita, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, with Professor Atsushi Yonezawa (Department of Integrated Clinical Pharmacology) serving as the general moderator. Following this, with Professor Koji Hase (Department of Biochemistry) serving as the chair, Mr. Nagayama delivered his lecture titled "The Current State of Global Drug Discovery and Japan's Challenges: An Industry Perspective." The participants listened intently as he spoke about the current state of global drug discovery, the challenges facing Japan's pharmaceutical industry, and the initiatives of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. to address them.
In the subsequent ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION, titled "What Should We Do Now to Survive in an Uncertain Era?," moderated by Assistant Professor Koki Noguchi (Division of Pharmaceutics), Mr. Nagayama answered questions submitted in advance and from students in the audience, drawing on his own experiences.
In particular, the question "What is the significance of obtaining a Ph.D.?" also drew comments from Mr. Tetsuo Nagano, Senior Managing Director of the Chugai Foundation for Innovative Drug Discovery Science and Professor Emeritus at the University of Tokyo, leading to a lively exchange of opinions.
The event concluded successfully in a vibrant atmosphere, with a group photo taken of all participants at the end.
Opening remarks by Dean Arita of the Faculty of Pharmacy
Keynote speech by Mr. Nagayama
A view of the venue
Professor Hase, chair of the keynote speech
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
Mr. Nagayama answering a question
Mr. Nagano answering a question
Current students actively asking questions
A moment of smiles in response to a question
Participants listening intently
Assistant Professor Noguchi, moderator of the
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION
General moderator, Professor Yonezawa
Group photo with all participants