About SPERA PHARMA

Message from the President

Greetings

SPERA PHARMA (SPERA) aims to develop the entire pharmaceutical industry and meet new medical needs by providing a drug development and manufacturing platform that implements Japan’s highest standard of CMC technology.

SPERA was spun out from CMC-related business of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company (Takeda), and was built as a subsidiary of Bushu Pharmaceuticals (Bushu) on July 1, 2017. Subsequently, Iwaki & Co., Ltd (currently renamed Astena Holdings Co., Ltd.) acquired all the shares of SPERA from Bushu, and SPERA restarted as a core subsidiary of Fine Chemical business in Astena Group on March 2, 2020.

SPERA has about 250 employees including researchers and technical specialists of process chemistry, formulation and analysis, who worked for Takeda CMC with much experience in the R&D and manufacture of new drugs as well as LCM programs. They have been engaged in contract R&D of pharmaceuticals as a partner company, supporting pharmaceutical industry including Takeda, ventures and academia.

Specifically, we have provided one-stop services as a CDMO to meet all customer’s needs for all CMC operations (including API manufacturing process development, formulation design, analytical method development, drug product/substance manufacturing, technology transfer and drug applications) not only on the technology but also on the R&D strategy through the early stage of drug development to new drug application and launch.

From the start of our business in July 2017, we have received inquiries from many customers and feel the great possibility of CMC contract R&D as a new business field. By talking with customers, we have understood both the expectations for SPERA and the capability that are missing at present. In order to keep up with customer expectations, we want to grow into a company that will contribute widely to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry, by improving speed and flexibility, and evolving strategically.

As the development of new drugs becomes increasingly difficult, SPERA will hone our technologies even further, bringing about new developments in drug R&D and contributing to building an even healthier society through the creation of outstanding new drugs. We ask for your continued support and assistance.

Keitaro Iwaki
President & Representative Director