Sakae Asanuma, chief executive of Astellas Venture Management, joined the corporate venturing unit of the Japan-based pharmaceutical company in 2011. He was previously a director at Yasuda Enterprise Development America, a venture firm backed by Japan-based insurers Sompo Japan Insurance and Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance. He worked at Yasuda Enterprise Development America from 2000 to 2011 and originated its biotech investment activities in the US.
Asanuma has invested in more than 20 US biotech companies. His portfolio companies have achieved five flotations and eight mergers. He previously worked for Meiji Yasuda Life for 11 years as a buyside analyst. He has an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University.