About Us

Who We Are

We are a group of passionate people with diverse backgrounds, bringing a global perspective which strengthens our ability to positively impact health. Our core values—Agility, Integrity, Innovation, Expertise, and Accountability—enable us to carry out our commitment to expanding therapeutic options that improve the lives of patients around the world.

Company Overview

Asahi Kasei Therapeutics is the global specialty pharmaceutical business of Tokyo-based Asahi Kasei. We are focused on identifying, developing and commercializing novel treatments in disease areas that include transplantation, nephrology, immunology, infectious diseases and other underserved conditions.

We have successfully commercialized the first approved therapy for IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), a rare kidney disease, and a leading branded medicine prescribed for kidney transplant patients. Through in-house development and strategic in-licensing, we’re bringing forward innovative medicines to continue addressing unmet medical needs, now and
into the future.

Our History

Asahi Kasei Therapeutics was formed through the union of legacy companies with a shared mission: to positively impact health by expanding therapeutic options that improve the lives of patients around the world. Together, we’re building a global specialty pharmaceutical company committed to identifying, developing and commercializing innovative medicines to address significant unmet medical needs. Learn more about our history and the journey that brought us here.

2026
Asahi Kasei Therapeutics launched; combines Asahi Kasei Corporation pharmaceutical subsidiaries – Aicuris, Asahi Kasei Pharma, Calliditas Therapeutics and Veloxis Pharmaceuticals
2026
Asahi Kasei completes acquisition of Aicuris
2024
Asahi Kasei completed acquisition of Calliditas Therapeutics
2023
Calliditas Therapeutics granted full approval from the FDA of world’s first approved treatment for IgAN
2021
Calliditas Therapeutics received conditional approval from the FDA under the accelerated approval pathway for the first approved treatment for IgAN
2020
Asahi Kasei completed acquisition of Veloxis Pharmaceuticals
2020
Calliditas Therapeutics U.S. initial public offering
2019
Calliditas Therapeutics established a US presence
2018
Calliditas Therapeutics listed on Nasdaq Stockholm
2018
Veloxis Pharmaceuticals received FDA approval of a second indication for the medicine initially approved in 2015
2017
Aicuris’ out-licensed medicine received first commercial approval from the FDA for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adult allogeneic stem cell transplant patients
2017
Pharmalink AB renamed Calliditas Therapeutics
2015
Veloxis Pharmaceuticals received its first commercial approval from the FDA for a medicine for the prevention of organ rejection in kidney transplant patients in combination with other immunosuppressants
2011
The Danish and U.S. entities of LifeCycle Pharma renamed to Veloxis Pharmaceuticals
2007
LifeCycle Pharma’s U.S. subsidiary incorporated
2006
Aicuris Anti-infective Cures AG (Aicuris) founded as a spin-off from Bayer’s anti-infective division
2006
LifeCycle Pharma listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen
2004
Calliditas Therapeutics founded under the name Pharmalink AB
2003
Asahi Kasei established Asahi Kasei Pharma
2002
Veloxis Pharmaceuticals founded as a spin-off from H. Lundbeck A/S under the name LifeCycle Pharma
1992
Asahi Kasei merged wth Toyo Jozo, providing combined R&D investments to compete in the emerging global pharmaceutical industry
1976
Asahi Kasei began pharmaceutical operations

Our Leadership

Leader of the Global Pharmaceutical Business

Yoshikazu Aoki

Yoshikazu Aoki

Global President

U.S. and European Leadership

Stacy Wheeler

Stacy Wheeler

Chief Executive Officer

Fredrik Johansson

Fredrik Johansson

Chief Financial Officer

Carl Kraus, MD

Carl Kraus, MD

Chief Medical Officer

Patrick M. Shea

Patrick M. Shea

Chief Commercial Officer

Ed Sleeper

Ed Sleeper

Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer

Noel Barnard

Noel Barnard

Senior Vice President, Legal and General Counsel

Tracy Sapp

Tracy Sapp

Senior Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations and Technology

Neil Morton

Neil Morton

Vice President, Global Business Development

Grant Support

Asahi Kasei Therapeutics is committed to positively impacting health by expanding therapeutic options that improve the lives of patients around the world. We understand the importance of collaborating with healthcare professionals, researchers, medical associations and advocacy organizations in support of this commitment.

Ethics and Compliance

Overview

At Asahi Kasei Therapeutics, our entire team upholds an unwavering commitment to acting ethically and responsibly in all that we do every day.  As part of living out this commitment, we have established an ethics and compliance program that supports two of our core values: integrity and accountability.  This program ensures we conduct business in compliance with the laws, regulations, guidance, and industry standards that govern our organization. We also carefully consider the impact of each decision on our ability to positively impact health and improve the lives of patients with serious medical conditions.

Our Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer and the Ethics and Compliance Team are responsible for overseeing our ethics and compliance program, which you can access an overview of here.

If you have questions about our ethics and compliance program, please email us at compliance@aktx.com.

Ethics & Compliance Helpline

Asahi Kasei Therapeutics is committed to essential principles of good corporate conduct and integrity across all its activities. If we become aware of violations of law or Company policy, we will investigate the matter and, where appropriate, take disciplinary action and implement corrective measures to prevent future violations.

We have set up an external compliance helpline system called the Asahi Kasei Therapeutics Anonymous Compliance Reporting Helpline—operated by an independent, certified third-party vendor for our employees and related parties to report potential violations of laws or Company guidelines.

To anonymously report a suspected violation of law or Company policy to the Asahi Kasei Therapeutics Anonymous Compliance Reporting Helpline:

Call: 1-833-214-6429 (English) or 1-800-216-1288 (Spanish);

Email: standard-reports@mitratech.com (include “Asahi Kasei Therapeutics” in subject line); or

Web Portal: https://report.syntrio.com/aktx

Code of Conduct

The Asahi Kasei Therapeutics Code of Conduct has been adopted by the Asahi Kasei Therapeutics Board of Directors to aid its directors, officers, employees, and colleagues with making ethical and legal decisions when conducting business and performing their day-to-day duties.

Access the Asahi Kasei Therapeutics Code of Conduct.

Open Payments/Sunshine Act

We are committed to transparent and accurate reporting under the Open Payments/Sunshine Act, which requires industry-wide reporting of certain payments made to health care providers and teaching hospitals. Examples of payments Asahi Kasei Therapeutics reports under the Open Payments/Sunshine Act include: consulting fees and compensation for services such as speaking engagements; meals, travel, and lodging costs associated with educational programs, advisory boards, or other business meetings; charitable contributions; research funding and grants; and education-related items and other lawful courtesies.

How to Search for Payment Information Using the CMS Open Payments Search Tool

  1. Visit the CMS Open Payments searchable database website at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/.
  2. Use “Search Open Payments Data” or “Advanced Search” to search by:
    • Reporting manufacturer (e.g., Asahi Kasei Therapeutics formerly Veloxis Pharmaceuticals);
    • Provider or teaching hospital; and/or
    • Geographic location, specialty, or other available filters.
  3. Select the Covered Recipient or Manufacturer generated by the search results, which will display, by year, the itemized payment records, including the type of payment or transfer of value, the amount, the date, and the reporting manufacturer.

Additional information about CMS’ Open Payments program can be found at: www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/open-payments.

For questions regarding Asahi Kasei Therapeutics’ transparency reporting, please contact us at: compliance@aktx.com

California Declaration of Compliance

Please access the Asahi Kasei Therapeutics declaration of compliance with California Health and Safety Code §§ 119400-119402.

State Transparency Requirements

View the latest State Transparency Pricing Sheets here.

US-AKTX-2600003 V2.0 9/26