John Kraus, MD, PhD

With over 25 years of experience in clinical, academic, pharmaceutical medicine, and drug development, John upholds Otsuka’s mission to create new products for better health worldwide. As Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, John is responsible for steering the organization and progressing our pipeline from development through to commercialization. With a holistic approach to overcoming challenges, John places patients at the center and inspires impactful change. He is dedicated to addressing the gaps in treatment and advancing care for underserved patients.

John joined Otsuka in July 2021 as Vice President of Global Clinical Development, CNS and has played an instrumental role in leading Otsuka’s CNS R&D efforts including design and oversight of all clinical research programs and protocols, due diligence of potential acquisitions, in-licensing or joint-development programs for clinical viability and prospective commercial success.

Throughout his career, John has led, contributed to, or managed drug development programs across several psychiatric, neurological, immunoinflammatory and rare diseases, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, neuropathic pain, neuro injury, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. John also has experience in substantial regulatory engagement, including with the Food and Drug Administration, Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Agency, European Medicines Agency and Paediatric Committee. Previously, he was Senior Vice President, Global Head of CNS at Parexel International.

John received his M.D. and Ph.D. in neurobiology from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. He completed his psychiatry residency training at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N.C., where he was also chief resident. In addition, John is a Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.