MEDIA RELEASE STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 111 NOVEMBER 2016, STANDARD TIME 5.30PM SINGAPORE 11 November 2016 SINGAPORE CONFERS DR. TADATAKA YAMADA HONORARY CITIZEN AWARD WITH PRESTIGIOUS Singapore Singapore today honours Dr. Tadataka Yamada, Venture Partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners, with the 2016 Honorary Citizen Award for his invaluable contributions to the country. The award is the highest form of recognition bestowed by the Singapore Government for outstanding contributions by individuals to the country s growth and development. It is conferred to those who have made a significant impact in the areas of business, science and technology, information communications, education, health, arts and culture, sports, tourism, community services or security. For more than a decade, Dr. Yamada played a critical role in advancing Singapore s biomedical sciences sector and catalysing scientific innovations in drug discovery and therapeutic advances. In his former role as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) s Chairman of Research and Development (R&D), he spurred entrepreneurial drive within the pharmaceutical industry through key initiatives such as pioneering GSK s Centre of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDD) structure, and supporting GSK in its investment in an R& &D pilot plant for small- of molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing in Singapore, one four current pilot plants in GSK s global network, and the primary site for GSK s new product introductions. In his various roles under Singapore s Biomedical Sciences Initiative which included being a member of the Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council, and a member of the A*STAR Board, he contributed significantly to shaping Singapore s R&D strategies to help keep us at the forefront of innovation and remain globally competitive. His guidance and insights have helped to deepen partnerships between A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) s Page 1 of 9
research institutes and the universities, clinical community and industry; and advance Singapore s R&D capabilities in the biomedical sciences sector. As the Chairman of the Project Review Committee of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC) under A*STAR, Dr. Yamada lent his experience in both academia and industry to guide the translational and clinical research efforts from early stage drug discovery to commercialisation. A notable outcome was the development of ETC-159, a novel small molecule drug candidate that targets a range of cancers, and the first publicly funded drug candidate discovered and developed in Singapore to reach first-in-man trials. On being named Honorary Citizen, Dr. Yamada said, I am very honoured to receive this prestigious national award. Singapore has achieved significant success over the years to become a world-class R&D hub. I am pleased to have played a part in this journey and contributed to Singapore s vibrant biomedical sciences research and enterprise ecosystem. This is the eleventh year the Honorary Citizen Award is being conferred. Dr. Yamada will receive the award from President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the Honorary Citizen Award Investiture at Istana today. The fact sheet on the Honorary Citizen Award and Dr. Yamada s biography are attached in Annex A and B respectively. Enclosed: ANNEX A Fact Sheet on the Honorary Citizen Award ANNEX B Biography of Dr. Tadataka Yamada For media queries and clarifications, please contact: Lynn Hong Senior Officer, Corporate Communications Agency for Science, Technology and Research Tel: +65 6419 6597 Email: hongxl@scei.a-star.edu.sg About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open Page 2 of 9
innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society. As a Science and Technology Organisation, A*STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore, and enhances lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improving outcomes in healthcare, urban living, and sustainability. We play a key role in nurturing and developing a diversity of talent and leaders in our Agency and Research Institutes, the wider research community and industry. A*STAR oversees 18 biomedical sciences and physical sciences and engineering research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For more information on A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg. Page 3 of 9
ANNEX A FACT SHEET ON THE HONORARY CITIZEN AWARD About the Honorary Citizen Award The title of Honorary Citizen is a national award conferred by the Singapore Government since 2003 to recognise and acknowledge the contributions of foreigners who have rendered extensive and valuable services to Singapore and its people, or who have made a significant impact in the areas of business, science and technology, information communications, education, health, arts and culture, sports, tourism and community services or security. The Honorary Citizen Award is the highest form of national recognition for a non- Singaporean and ranks ahead of existing awards the Public Service Star (Distinguished Friends of Singapore) Award and the Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) Award. The title of Honorary Citizen is conferred for life. Past Honorary Citizen Award Recipients 2003 Dr. Sydney Brenner (UK) Scientific Advisor to Ministers / Senior Fellow, A*STAR Dr Pasquale Pistorio (Italy) President & Chief Executive, STMicroelectronics 2004 Sir Richard Brook Sykes (UK) Chairman, GlaxoSmith Kline PLC (2000-2002) Mr. Lodewijk Christiaan Van Wachem (Netherlands) Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Royal Dutch Petroleum Company (Shell) (1992-2002) 2005 Dr Tsutomu Kanai (Japan) Chairman of the Board & Director of Hitachi Ltd Professor Robert A Brown (US) Provost, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (1998-2005) Page 4 of 9
2007 Mr Lee R. Raymond (US) Chairman and CEO, ExxonMobil (1999-2006) Dr Heinrich von Peirer (German) Chairman, Supervisory Board of Siemens AG 2008 Mr Ratan Tata (India) Chairman, Tata Group Tan Sri Frank Tsao Wen-King (Malaysia) Senior Chairman, IMC Group Chairman, Suntec City Development 2010 Mr Jeroen van der Veer (Netherlands) Chief Executive, Royal Dutch Shell (2004-2009) Vice-Chairman, Supervisory Board of ING 2011 Professor Edward Holmes (US) Deputy Chairman, Translational and Clinical Science Group, Biomedical Research Council, A*STAR Executive Chairman of the National Medical Research Council, MOH 2012 Lord Ronald Oxburgh (UK) Co-chairman of A*STAR Science & Technology Advisory Committee (2011) Deputy Chairman, Board of the A*STAR Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) 2014 Mr Hiromasa Yonekura (Japan) Chairman, Sumitomo Chemical Member, International Advisory Council, A*Star (2007-2011) 2015 Professor Sir George Radda Chairman of Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Emeritus Professor of Molecular Cardiology, University of Oxford Dr Joan Bray Rose Chairperson, PUB External Audit Panel Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research and Co-Director, Center for Page 5 of 9
Water Sciences and Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University, USA Page 6 of 9
ANNEX B BIOGRAPHY OF DR. TADATAKA YAMADA Dr. Tadataka (Tachi) Yamada Venture Partner, Frazier Healthcare Partners Member, Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council (BMS IAC) Dr. Tadataka (Tachi) Yamada is a Venturee Partner at Frazier Healthcare Partners. He was also the former Board Member, Executive Vice-President of Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Chief Medical and Scientific Officer (2011 to 2015), and the former President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health Programme (2006 to 2011). Prior to that, he acted as Chairman, Research and Development and a Member of the Board of Directors of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). He was also the Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and Physician-in-Chief of the University of Michigan Medical Center. Dr. Yamada has played a critical role in the development of Singapore s Biomedical Sciences (BMS) sector. For more than 10 years, Dr. Yamada contributed greatly to Singapore s BMS industry sector development, and provided advice on national BMS R& D policies and directions. During his tenure as GSK s Chairman of R&D from 19999 to 2006, Dr. Yamada was instrumental in establishing one of GSK s corporate R&D labs in Singapore. A believer in the biotech model to spur entrepreneurial drive within Big Pharma, Dr. Yamada pioneered GSK s Centree of Excellence for Drug Discovery (CEDD) structure. As part of this innovative model,, Dr. Yamada championed the establishment of a lab in Biopolis to conduct preclinical R&D with a focus on neurology. It was also during Dr. Yamada s tenure as the Chairman of R&D that GSK decided to invest in a R& &D pilot plant for small-molecule active pharmaceutical ingredients manufacturing. The Singapore pilott plant is one of four current pilot Page 7 of 9
plants in GSK s global network, and is the primary site for GSK s new product introductions. Dr. Yamada has been also one of the longest serving members of the A*STAR Board. Drawing on his extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry, academia, clinical practice as well as non-profit organisations, Dr. Yamada provided strategic guidance and valuable insights to Singapore through his various appointments, including: a. Chairman, Project Review Committee, Experimental Therapeutics Centre, A*STAR (2008 31 January 2016) b. Co-Chairman, A*STAR Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC) (1 June 2011 now) c. Member of the Singapore Biomedical Sciences International Advisory Council (BMS IAC) (1 December 2006 now) d. Member of the A*STAR Board (1 February 2003 31 January 2016) e. Member of the BMRC Board (1 February 2009 31 January 2016) f. Member of the A*STAR Investigatorship Selection Panel (1 October 2013 now) g. Member of the BMRC Strategic Review Committee (1 August 2010 31 August 2011) h. Co-Chairman, A*STAR Investigatorship Selection Panel (1 June 2006 31 December 2010) In his various capacities in advising BMRC, he has generously devoted his time to guide and advise BMRC on the formulation of research strategies to remain innovative and cutting-edge. He was a strong advocate of public-private partnerships and provided valuable advice to BMRC on organising research structures and activities for impactful industry engagements, thus helping A*STAR to achieve its goal of mission-oriented research and economic value creation. He also played an important role in reshaping BMRC s overall strategy and science agenda in order for A*STAR to become more competitive internationally, and advised on the strategies that should be adopted to create greater and more productive collaborations between BMRC Research Institutes (RIs) and the universities, clinical community and industry, among other issues. He has contributed many useful insights on initiating and sustaining Translational and Clinical Research (TCR) programmes and projects. Dr. Yamada has offered valuable suggestions on the possible ways to leverage national healthcare IT as Page 8 of 9
a key enabler for research and to build up Singapore BMS s TCR capabilities that range from infrastructure, scientific programmes to talent development. As Chairman of the Project Review Committee of the Experimental Therapeutics Centre (ETC), and Drug Discovery & Development unit (D3), Dr. Yamada offered invaluable perspectives on international scientific trends and industry needs, as well as drug development know-hows. Under his guidance, ETC-159, a novel small molecule drug candidate that targets a range of cancers became the first publicly funded drug candidate discovered and developed in Singapore to reach first-in-man trials. As Co-chairman of the A*STAR Science and Technology Advisory Committee (STAC), Dr. Yamada identified opportunities and provide strategic advice and recommendation on the science and technology planning and research initiatives for A*STAR, and helped to steer A*STAR s strategic investment to develop key capabilities in our science and technology portfolio. The breadth of Dr. Yamada s contributions has greatly shaped and advanced Singapore s scientific research and development initiatives. In recognition of his immense contribution towards promoting Singapore's growth and interests, he received the National Day Public Service Medal (Friends of Singapore) [PBM(FOS)] in 2006. Born in 1945, Dr. Yamada graduated from Stanford University with a BA in history and obtained his M.D. from New York University School of Medicine. He was a gastroenterologist who focused his research on the molecular biology of hormone receptors and is the editor of The Textbook of Gastroenterology. The studies undertaken by Dr. Yamada and his collaborators led to basic discoveries in the post-translational processing and biological activation of peptide hormones, the structure and function of receptors for hormones regulating gastric acid secretion, and the regulation of genes involved in the acid secretory process. In recognition of his contributions to medicine, he has been elected to membership in the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (US) and the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK). He has received the honorary appointment as Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) and other numerous awards including the Distinguished Achievement Award in Gastrointestinal Physiology from the American Physiological Society, the Friedenwald Medal from the American Gastroenterological Association, the Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award from the University of Michigan and the Distinguished Medical Scientist Award from the Medical College of Virginia. Page 9 of 9