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MEDISOA comprehensive portal site for Medical Innovation Support Office (MEDISO).Medical Innovation Support Office

厚生労働省

Knowledgeable experts support
the practical application of medicines,
medical devices,
and regenerative medicinal products.

What is MEDISO

MEDISO provides support for business ventures, academia,
and individuals intending to put into practical use medicines,
medical devices, and regenerative medicinal products.
Click here for further details.

About the Medical Innovation Support Office

The medical innovation support office matches medical venture companies and academic institutions facing challenges in the practical application of medical products and devices for specialists* who provide detailed consultation and support for solving problems at each stage from research and development to practical use, as well as insurance coverage at clinical sites, while looking ahead to the overall comprehensive advances and dissemination into the global market.
* Specialists in each field provide support for the response to laws and regulations, marketing, business planning, fund rasing, management strategy, intellectual property management, and international development, etc.

This website is operated by Mitsubishi Research Institute, Inc., as a trustee under instructions from the Economic Affairs Division, Health Policy Bureau, and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a part of the total support for the medical ventures program sponsored by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

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Support targets

Ventures, academic institutions, and individuals aiming to put into practical use the medicines, medical devices, regenerative medicinal products, and novel drug-discovery technologies or medical materials subject to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Law.

Details of support

MEDISO provides support for the practical application of medicines, medical devices, regenerative medicinal products, and other products subject to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Law.
That support includes business planning, financing, advice on laws and regulations, and other assistance as required.

Click here for inquiries

In case the link does not work, please contact us at the email address below
mediso@ml.mri.co.jp

Specialists Introduction

We will introduce registered specialists
(updated as necessary).

Kiyoaki Kojima

Partner

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Business planning
  • Funding
  • Business operation systems
  • Specialized support fields

Kiyo advises clients in corporate formation, governance, and compliance matters; mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; leasing and licensing matters; distribution and franchise arrangements; and a wide range of commercial transactions.An important part of Kiyo’s practice includes his work with international companies in relocating and/or establishing ventures in the U.S. He assists companies and investors with incentives and site selection; real estate acquisitions and construction agreements; corporate formation and governance; asset purchases and joint ventures; regulatory compliance; and contracts of all types to help ensure a seamless U.S. launch or transition.He also counsels clients in virtually all areas of labor and employment law, including drafting and/or interpretation of employment agreements, company policies, and handbooks; union-avoidance training; countering discrimination and harassment claims; hire, fire and discipline issues; and dispute resolution procedures. Active in the community, Kiyo is a member of the Atlanta Bar Association, a board member of the Japan America Society of Georgia, and a board member of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Georgia. He also serves in “advisor” or “supporter” roles in various entities in Japan, such as InnoHub, MEDISO, and IDEC Yokohama.

Masanori Sato

ReachMed Partners LLC President

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Marketing
  • Business planning
  • Funding
  • Business operation systems
  • Etc

Masanori has extensive experience in pharmaceutical R&D, alliance management, and business development. Their career evolved into leadership roles in global product launches, strategic licensing, and early-stage clinical development, particularly in antiviral therapeutics at a R&D focused pharmaceutical division of a leading Japanese conglomerate. Later, as head of the business development department, they managed global licensing agreements and partnerships with major pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. and Europe for multiple in-house pipeline assets. Since 2016, they have held leadership roles in alliance management and business development at leading U.S. biotech and European pharmaceutical companies, focusing on partnerships with Japanese firms, contract negotiations, and search & evaluation of external technologies/assets across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. From 2021, they joined a top Japanese pharmaceutical company, where they led open innovation initiatives, incubation of internal and external seed assets, and support for venture investments. During this time, they also served as a board member for a portfolio biotech companies. In March 2025, they founded their own company, leveraging their broad expertise and network to support Japanese biotech startups and assist international startups into Japan. They hold national license for Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant, among others.

Takato Noumi

Representative Director, FORESIGHT&LINX Cp., Ltd.

Main specialty areas

  • medicines

Specialized support fields

  • Business planning
  • Funding
  • Business operation systems

At his consulting company, he is currently providing practical support for constructing research strategies, business development, and licensing regarding to drug discovery to pharmaceutical companies and biotech venture companies in Japan and overseas. After completing his postgraduate course, he worked in basic research in molecular biology for 10 years followed by joining the Research Division of the headquarters of Novartis. Subsequently he served as the head of theTsukuba Research Laboratories of GlaxoSmithKline K.K. He had engaged in drug discovery research from a global point of view for 15 years. After that, he has been involved in searching for and evaluating drug discovery seeds and technologies and developing international businesses and licensing at Sanofi S.A. in France and his own consulting company for 10 years. He has a broad network of connections with pharmaceutical companies, biotech venture companies, academia, and venture capital firms in Japan and overseas.

Hiroyuki Hasegawa

Director of Life Science, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.

Main specialty areas

  • medicines
  • medical devices
  • regenerative medicine products

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Marketing
  • Business planning
  • Funding
  • Business operation systems

He graduated with a master’s degree from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University. In 1994, he joined Daiichi Seiyaku Company (current Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited) and was in charge of the areas of infectious diseases and cancers in the Department of Post-marketing Surveillance. In 2004, he joined UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (current Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd.), where he served as an analyst and capitalist. From 2013, he made an attempt to use open innovation for the Development of Emerging Technologies (OiDE) Fund for the purpose of nurturing outcomes from academia-launched research to become the fundamental technology for drug discovery in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo Company Limited(liquidated in 2023).Since the first fund in 2017, we have been promoting investment activities using a total of 50 billion yen, including the "Mitsubishi UFJ Life Science Fund No. 4" (20 billion yen).Currently, he holds the position of outside director at Kamuipharma, GAIA Biomedicine, and Luxonus Co. Ltd., as well as serving as a fellow for collaboration between industry and academia at Kyoto University Medical Science and Business Liaison Organization.

Tomokazu Ichikawa

Director, TM Research and Investments Pte. Ltd.

Main specialty areas

  • medical devices

Specialized support fields

  • Regulatory compliance
  • Business planning
  • Funding

Leveraged cross-functional expertise in business strategy and legal to work on strategy development, M&A, and investments in the medical device sector. Practiced law at Nagashima, Ohno and Tsunematsu, handling M&A and other corporate matters. Worked for McKinsey & Company and Hoya Corporation. Completed several acquisitions and investments in the US and Europe in the medical device business. Experienced managing a healthcare service operator in India. Currently, helping AI Medical Service, an artificial intelligence software startup for endoscope and CUC, a healthcare service provision related company. Spent more than 10 years in Singapore and familiar with business in Southeast Asian countries. Graduated from Waseda University, London Business School's Masters in Finance, and Cambridge's MBA. Attorney at law admitted in Japan.

About details of specialists

Introduction of measures implemented by public institutions

We will describe the measures from public institutions for pharmaceutical companies,
medical device companies, companies manufacturing regenerative medicinal products, and venture companies.

See more about measures implemented by public institutions