The News

Sofinnova Partners Names Chika Yoshinaga Vice President, Asia

19/09/2007

Paris, FRANCE — September 19, 2007 — Sofinnova Partners today announced that Chika Yoshinaga, M.D., a seasoned investor in life sciences, has joined the firm as Vice President, Asia. Her mission will be to spearhead and define Sofinnova Partners’ strategic initiative in Asia, which will emphasize China.

Over her four years as Deputy General Manager at NIF SMBC Ventures, Yoshinaga invested in five companies, four based in Europe and one in the United States. Three have completed initial public offerings: Acorda Therapeutics (NASDAQ: ACOR), BioXell (SWX: BXLN), and Innate Pharma (EURONEXT: IPH). Prior to joining the venture capital industry, Yoshinaga worked as a System Engineer in the Information System Division of the Health and Science Research Institute in Yokohama, Japan. She was also a physician intern and practiced medicine at WuaTong Hospital in Shanghai, China.
 
“Over the years we have developed a respectful and enjoyable relationship with Chika as a co-investor,” commented Denis Lucquin, Managing Partner of Sofinnova Partners.   “Now we can look forward to directly benefiting from her inside perspective on the emerging Asian market. She will guide us on the development of a comprehensive China strategy, and provide vital introductions to her base of contacts in the medical and entrepreneurial communities, as well as the local network of investors.”

“It’s a pleasure for me to join the Sofinnova Partners team,” said Yoshinaga. “I appreciate the value they place on cross-cultural nuances and respect their general investment philosophy. While being successful venture investors they maintain a genuine focus on building companies that will thrive and contribute for the long term.”

Yoshinaga earned an M.S. in Bio-Engineering from Yokohama National University in Japan, as well as an M.D. in Clinical Medicine from Shanghai Medical University in China.

Whereas the IT venture capital industry is reaching maturity, the life science industry in China is strengthening as the country’s rapid economic growth is paired with an increasing demand for a higher quality of healthcare. Many of the world’s top pharmaceutical companies have committed to the country. Within the past 18 months, Astra Zeneca, Eli Lilly and Novartis have each committed to invest 0 million to establish research and development facilities in China. They follow Roche and Pfizer, which committed significant investments in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

 

Press Contact:
Lamia Idrissi
Sofinnova Partners
lidrissi@sofinnova.fr
+33 (0)1 53 05 41 06