Founders
Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was founded by the following individuals:
Executive Advisor, International Business DevelopmentFounding CEO and Co-Founder
Sachiko Kuno, Ph.D. joined Dr. Ryuji Ueno in the mid-1980s to establish R-Tech Ueno Ltd. in Japan to commercialize prostones, a class of functional fatty acids whose therapeutic potential was first identified by Dr. Ueno. Leveraging R-Tech's success in Japan, Dr. Kuno and Dr. Ueno founded Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1996 to pursue research and development efforts in the Americas.
Dr. Kuno's expertise ranges from project management for research and development entities to the guidance of Investigational New Drug Application/New Drug Application submissions through the FDA.
Dr. Kuno holds a Ph.D. in industrial biochemistry from Kyoto University. She has conducted post-doctoral research at the Technical University of Munich, Germany, and has completed certificate coursework in international business management at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Scientific Officer
Founder
Chairman of the Board
Ryuji Ueno is an internationally recognized expert in the pharmacology, physiology and biochemistry of naturally occurring (endogenous) fatty acids and their related compounds.
In the 1980s, Dr. Ueno started pharmaceutical development based on his research with prostones, a class of functional fatty acids whose tremendous therapeutic potential Dr. Ueno first identified. This class of lipids is the subject of over 650 patents worldwide. Joined by Dr. Sachiko Kuno in the mid-1980s, after 10 years of biomedical research, Dr. Ueno founded the R-Tech Ueno, Ltd., in Japan, a company dedicated to the research and production of his proprietary compounds.
Following R-Tech Ueno, Ltd's successful development and the commercial launch of its first product, Dr. Ueno and Dr. Kuno founded Sucampo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 1996 to pursue research and development efforts in the Americas.
As a leading expert in his field, Dr. Ueno has authored more than 100 articles in notable scientific journals. Dr. Ueno received his M.D. and a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry from Keio University in Japan. Additionally, he holds a Ph.D. in pharmacology from Osaka University.