10 July 2024

Press Release

EFPIA Japan

Appoints Mr. Yoshiaki Aono as Director General
TOKYO – 10 July 2024 – EFPIA Japan announced that Mr.Yoshiaki Aono has been appointed
Director General of EFPIA Japan, effective 1 July 2024.
Upon this appointment, Mr.Aono says” In recent years, pharmaceutical industry in Japan
has been pointed out to have a drug lag/drug loss issues and a decline in international
competitiveness. Policy proposals to overcome these problems and strengthen drug
development capabilities have been made, and the fact that they have also been clearlystated in Honebuto policy is a great opportunity for our pharmaceutical industry. We would
like to work with stakeholders through respect for the diversity embodied by EFPIA and theadvanced knowledge of Europe in life sciences to contribute to the further development of
the drug development ecosystem”.
EFPIA Japan Chair Iwaya says “I am pleased to welcome Mr. Aono, who worked as Vice
Chair of EFPIA Japan to strengthen dialogue with the governments and has been working
for a long time as Senior Adviser to EFPIA even after his retirement. We look forward toworking with him to establish a sustainable and resilient healthcare ecosystem in Japan”.

Mr Aono joined Ciba-Geigy Japan (now Novartis) in 1979. He has served as Head of
Cardiovascular Business Department, Marketing Division, and Sales Division at Novartis
Pharma. In 2012, he was transferred to Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim where he became
Representative Director and President (currently Representative Director and General
President of the Pharmaceuticals Business Unit). He retired from the company in 2022 after
becoming Representative Director, Chairman and President in 2020. He has served as Vice
Chair of EFPIA Japan since 2020 and as Senior Advisor since 2022.
About EFPIA Japan (http://efpia.jp/)
Established in April 2002, EFPIA Japan represents 23 R&D-based European pharmaceutical companies
operating in Japan. In 2022, combined sales from the member companies accounted for roughly 31% of thepharmaceutical market in Japan. The mission of EFPIA Japan is to “Contribute to healthcare and patients inJapan through the early introduction of innovative medicines and vaccines”. EFPIA Japan aims to strengthen
dialogue with decision-makers in order to improve Japanese healthcare for all.
About EFPIA (European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations) (http://www.efpia.eu)
The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) represents thebiopharmaceutical industry operating in Europe. Through its direct membership of 37 national associations,
40 leading pharmaceutical companies, and a growing number of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs),
EFPIA JapanTokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1488, Japan

EFPIA’s mission is to create a collaborative environment that enables our members to innovate, discover,develop, and deliver new therapies and vaccines for people across Europe, as well as contribute to theEuropean economy.
Contact:Yukie Shimono
EFPIA Japan Communications Committee
Tokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1488, Japan Sanofi K.K.
Tel: 090-2736-8171
Email: yukie.shimono@sanofi.com

EFPIA JapanTokyo Opera City Tower, 3-20-2 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 163-1488, Japan