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

Yuki Yamakage

Representative Director, Takashi Shimada Office Co., Ltd.
Managing Partner, BD Consulting Ltd.

I have experience working for a global medical device company in insurance strategy development and insurance applications for products in a wide range of medical specialties and disease areas, as well as market access work (relevant academic societies, patient groups, government agencies and industry associations). I have now set up my own private practice and provide support to medical device and pharmaceutical companies and new entrants in terms of healthcare and care systems and insurance strategies. I have experience in the insurance application category (C1/C2 applications) for innovative medical devices. I also have a lot of experience in training employees and conducting seminars, most recently on SaMD insurance applications. My motto is to provide consulting services that address the concerns of my clients after explaining information on insurance applications for medical devices in a way that is easy to understand for beginners.

Eiichi Yamaguchi

Eiichi Yamaguchi, Ph.D. President A1 Partners

Ph.D from Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences Kyushu University. Currently engaged in management and business development consulting for pharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, and consulting firms. Over 20 years expertise of business development at Shionogi Co., Ltd., a major pharmaceutical company as well as bioventure companies. Senior Director, Business Development & Corporate Planning Dept., Shionogi. A lot of global business experience such as the first Managing Director, Shionogi Singapore, Vice President, Shionogi Qualicaps, Inc., North Carolina, and Shionogi New York. Board of Director & President & COO, a bioventure company. The first chairman, Japan Pharma Alliance Association. The Vice Chairman, Public Private Alliance Conference associated with Infectious diseases led by Dr. Shigeru Omi. Also engaged in Director, International Committee, JPMA. Last but not least, selected as Mentor for Blockbuster Tokyo 2021

Katsuhiro Fukunishi

Masanori Sato

ReachMed Partners LLC President

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.

Hikaru Saito

Saisei Ventures LLC Partner

As a partner of Saisei Ventures, a newly established global venture capital firm that invests in advanced biotech companies in cell and gene therapy, Dr. Saito is responsible for Japan operations including company creation, integrating Japanese science and technology with the Western ecosystem. Prior to joining Saisei, he started career as a research scientist at Astellas Pharma Inc. and then as a Senior Manager of Business Development and as a Senior Investment Manager at Astellas Venture Management, a CVC arm based in Silicon Valley, USA, where he was a lead role for deal process, due diligence and transactions for venture investments in RNA therapeutics, cell and gene therapy. He was providing business support to portfolio companies based on the expertise, experience, and global network. He also led the development of strategic partnerships with venture capital funds, accelerators, and institutional investors based in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining Astellas, he was a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, and a Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. He received his B.S. in Biotechnology and M.S. and Ph.D. in Biomolecular Molecularl Engineering from Tokyo Institute of Technology.