What are you doing recently?

Ms. D

Good to see you! We were working as a MR at the same office when we were in the Sales & Marketing Division. What are you doing in China?

Mr. A

I’m working at Tianjin Tanabe Seiyaku Co., Ltd. (TJT), which is one of the overseas group company producing and marketing pharmaceuticals in China. As TJT is outsourcing part of its business, I’m in charge of licensing negotiation, managing sales and supply chain, and development of marketing route.

Ms. D

I’m working as a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) at Ikuyaku, Integrated Value Development Division. The role and responsibility of MSL is to know the unmet medical needs by providing information about products and scientific knowledge to medical staffs who are the experts in the therapeutic area and exchanging information with them. Through these activities, we are making development plans and creating evidence. I think this is the first time to talk with B and C.

Ms. B

Yes. I’m working at a group in charge of the around the pill business in Ikuyaku Strategy & Planning Department. This is a new group established in April 2021. We are in charge of creating around the pill solutions, which means to fulfill the unmet needs of patients by methods beside drugs.

Mr. C

I’m working at the Global Product Strategy Department. We oversee strategy planning for products and product pipeline by overviewing the whole value chain, meaning research, development, manufacturing, and sales. We also do research and analysis of the market and regulations to decide R&D asset allocation and partnering strategy based on the corporate strategy.

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Past career

Mr. A

I entered the company in 2011. I wanted to join our company to make contribution to health by providing pharmaceuticals around the globe as having background studying in China. After working as a MR for 8 years, I applied to the “Career challenge subsystem” which is an in-house recruiting system in our company and transferred to overseas department. After supporting business for group companies in Asia for a year, I was transferred to China in 2021, which I wished for a long time.

Ms. B

As joining the company in 2012, this year is my 10th year here. After 4 years working as a Clinical Research Associate (CRA), I spent 5 years for clinical planning. My turning point was the maternity leave in my fifth and seventh year. I started to think that I want to make another challenge which is to contribute to people’s health besides traditional pharmaceutical products as I had chances getting involved with many people in different industries. After coming back, I spent a while at clinical planning and had a chance to get transferred in 2021.

Mr. C

I joined the company in 2014. I started my career at Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division as a chemist. At my third year, I applied for studying overseas and was able to spend two year at a university in the U.S. as a visiting scientist. Through this experience, I felt that researchers in our company have the same level as the researchers in a global pharmaceutical company, or top-level academic institute. Then, I started to have interest in strategy planning which will affect the outcome from the research. I explained it to my supervisor and received a chance to get transferred to where I am at the seventh year.

Ms. D

As I joined the company in 2016, I am the youngest person here. I started at Sales & Marketing Division, which is same as A. I had a strong challenging spirit and was thinking that I would like to have a chance doing a different job. From my second year, I started to let my supervisor know about it in career interview. But I didn’t think that I will be able to have a chance at my fourth year and was surprised.

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In-house systems for career development

Mr. A

In my case, I used the career challenge subsystem (in-house recruiting system), but I feel there are many systems to support developing your career. Also, I appreciate my supervisors and colleagues to be supportive.

Mr. C

I feel the same for researchers. Additional to the career challenge subsystem, transfer to different divisions and departments are part of the development plan. For me, the latter one was the case.

Ms. B

Mentioned earlier, you can discuss with your supervisor in annual career interview. This is a good opportunity to think about your career besides telling your supervisor where you want to go. I explained what I want to do in the interview and feel that it led to where I am.

Mr. A

I also think career interview is a good opportunity. Additionally, I think having a clear vision about your career is important too.

Ms. D

I also explained options about developing my career in the division. My supervisor listened to me well and gave me some advice about in-house internship, which I experienced.

Ms. B

Didn’t you have concerns about being transferred to another department at your fourth year?

Ms. D

Actually, I was worried about it, but my colleagues at the new place were warm and I was able to get used to there soon.

Mr. A

I think it is same to other places, which I think is a corporate culture.

Mr. C

I agree. I wasn’t afraid of going to another department as long as I’m in the company.

What kind of career in the future?

Ms. B

What’s your plan for the career in the future?

Mr. A

I would like to contribute to the management of TJT by working proactively and get the sales by alliance on track. Also, I would like to develop my capability so that I will be able to predict and handle various risk. After that, I would like to develop my skill learned in China in depth and make a challenge at a strategic department which is close to the top management.

Ms. D

I would like to build up my experience as a MSL first. As the product I’m in charge of has just launched, would like to work on it until certain amount of clinical research has been done. After that, I have interest for clinical development, which is the phase before launch because my experience is based on the phase after launch, such as MR and MSL.

Mr. C

I would like to go back to the research field after one more year at where I am and contribute to the execution of the strategy. Strategy is important but success will depend on the performance in execution, so I think I want to make contribution from my experience getting involved for strategy. In long term, I would like to go back and forth between strategy and research and merge my knowledge of both.

Ms. B

I would like to develop my point of view different from clinical development at my new place and then think about my career in the future. I would like to manage my work life balance according to my life as raising my children will keep on going for a certain amount of time. Better than nothing, I would like to show my children enjoying working.

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Attractive points of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma

Mr. A

At last, what kind of words will come out if you tell the student about our good point?

Mr. C

What I feel attractive is the environment to support each individual to develop. At the research division where I was assigned, there were 1 on 1 meetings with the Vice President additional to the director, who was my supervisor. Including being a specialist at the field of your expertise, there is an environment which you could also be involved in the surrounding field and build various career pathway.

Ms. B

I like the culture that supervisors and colleagues will keep on supporting, not only for temporary help.

Ms. D

I think there is an environment which you can challenge from when you are young. I feel this will be attractive to a person having strong will to challenge and a vision.

Mr. A

I totally agree with you all. Adding one thing, you can find out new possibilities after joining the company, and there is a culture to encourage your challenge. As you can know from the career of today’s member, our company is a place you can fulfill your life by pursuing possibilities and enjoy your job.