Company History
~2015
- Hirotsu's paper revealing the involvement of the Ras-MAPK pathway in
nematode olfaction
has been published in the British scientific journal "Nature"
- Inoue Science Foundation
Hirotsu received "Inoue Research Encouragement Award"
- First clinical study on nematode cancer scent detection published in PLOS
ONE, by Takaaki Hirotsu
A number of media outlets report the invention, generating a great response from various
quarters
2016
- Hirotsu Bio Science Inc. established
(headquartered: in Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo),
with the aim of commercializing N-NOSE nematode cancer testing
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu selected as 2016 "Nice Step Researcher"
by the National Institute of Science and Technology Policy (NISTEP)
- The Society for Neuroclearative Research, NPO
Representative Hirotsu receives the "Development Research Encouragement Award"
- The Foundation for Advancement of Science
Representative Hirotsu receives the "Nakayama Prize Encouragement Award"
- New joint clinical research partner:Nanpuh
Hospital
2017
- Implements capital increase through third-party share allotment(1st time in
2017)
- Central Research Laboratory, Fukuoka Research Laboratory,
and Shikoku Analysis Center established
- Representative Hirotsu Invited to Speak at Brisbane Cancer Conference
2017
- Establishes Australian firm Hirotsu Bio Australia Pty. Ltd.
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (2nd time in
2017)
- Selected as a "Regional Future Leader" by the Ministry of Economy,
Trade and Industry
- New joint clinical research
partners:Shikoku Cancer Center; Ageo Central General Hospital, Department of
Gastroenterology; Hills Garden Clinic; Engaru-Kosei General Hospital; Saitama Medical
University International Medical Center, Department of Gastroenterology; Todachuo General
Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology; Inazawa Kosei Hospital, Department of
Gastroenterology; Ibi Kosei Hospital; Queensland University of Technology; Shin-Yamanote
Hospital, Digestive Surgery Department/Respiratory Medicine Department; Nanpuh
Hospital/Shionogi & Co., Ltd.; Osaka University, Department of Gastroenterology and
Hepatology; Kurume University, Multidisciplinary Cancer Treatment Center
2018
- Head office relocated to Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo,
to accommodate business expansion
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (1st time in
2018)
- Selected for Fukuoka Prefecture Project for Application of Innovative
Ultra-Early Cancer Detection Technology,
Fukuoka Prefecture
- Forms capital and business alliances with Toppan Forms Co., Ltd., AS ONE
Corporation, Ichinen Holdings Co., Ltd., Miraca Holdings Inc., Avex Inc. and Nippon
Broadcasting System, Inc.
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (2nd time in
2018)
- Hirotsu becomes a Adjunct associate professor
at Queensland University of Technology
- President Hirotsu appointed to the Board of Directors
of the Japan Society for Biological-Diagnosis, Inc.
- First overseas program to feature nematode cancer testing
NHK World JAPAN "NEWS ROOM TOKYO"
- Our company's first close interview, and the R&D process will be
broadcast
TV Tokyo's "Gaia no Yoake (Dawn of Gaia)"
- New joint clinical research
partners:Tokushima University, Department of Hematology; Todachuo General
Hospital, Department of Nephrology
2019
- Takaaki Hirotsu presents at the 60th Annual Scientific Meeting
of Japan Society of Ningen Dock
- Kobunsha releases book by CEO Takaaki Hirotsu:
Cancer Screening is What Nematodes Do
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu participates as an invitee in the 16th Annual Meeting
of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum
- Establishes American firm Hirotsu & Co., Inc.
- Central Research Laboratory, Fukuoka Research Laboratory and Shikoku
Analysis Center were renamed
to Kashiwa R&D Center, Fukuoka R&D Center and Matsuyama R&D Center
- HBS Tokyo Inspection Center and HBS Matsuyama Inspection Center are
established
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu presents at the 2021 World Alliance Forum in San
Francisco (WAFSF)
- New joint clinical research partner:Kurume
University, Department of Pediatrics
2020
- N-NOSE®, the world's first nematode cancer screening test, commercialized
as a "primary cancer screening test"
- Numerous news reports in various media related to the practical application
of N-NOSE
- Platinum Initiative Network, Inc.
Receives the Excellence Award at the 8th Platinum Awards
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (1st time in
2020)
- Succeeds in fully automating N-NOSE testing equipment
- Head office relocated to Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, to accommodate business
expansion
- Launches "Go To N-NOSE", an N-NOSE service for individual users
N-NOSE Stations open in Tokyo and Fukuoka
- Kashiwa R&D Center relocated, newly established as Shonan R&D Center
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu presents at the 4th World Congress on Ningen Dock
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (2nd time in
2020)
- New joint clinical research
partners:University of Tsukuba, Department of Pediatrics; (Note: Kyoto
Prefectural University of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics); National Center for Child
Health and Development, Children's Cancer Center; Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital,
Department of Gastroenterological Internal Medicine; Gifu University, Department of Surgical
Oncology; Ageo Central General Hospital (2); The University of Tokyo, Department of Stomach
and Esophageal Surgery; Teikyo University, Department of Dermatology; Showa University,
Department of Gastroenterology
2021
- "N-NOSE Station" opens in Osaka
- Fukuoka Branch of Local Employees' Mutual Aid Association Introduces
"N-NOSE" for the First Time in Japan
- Forms capital and business alliances
with Yokogawa Electric Corporation and HoriPro Inc.
- "N-NOSE Station Satellite" specimen collection sites nationwide
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (1st time in
2021)
- "N-NOSE at home", a new service that allows users to complete inspections
at home, begins in 47 prefectures nationwide
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (2nd time in
2021)
- Forms capital and business alliance agreement with Mitsui Sumitomo Aioi Life
Insurance Co., Ltd.
- "N-NOSE Station" opens in Shinjuku
- Ffirst corporate TV commercial begins airing in the Kansai area
- First N-NOSE TV commercial starts airing on national television
- "N-NOSE Station" opens in Matsuyama
- Success in Development of N-NOSE's Next-Generation Cancer Type Specific
Test
Announced that the world's first test for early-stage pancreatic cancer
will be commercially available in 2022
This announcement was reported in over 300 news media outlets
- Valuation exceeds 100 billion after 5 years in business
Became the first unicorn company in the Japanese healthcare sector
- New joint clinical research partners:Showa
University, Department of Gastroenterology (2); Queensland University of Technology (2);
Juntendo University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
2022
- Third-party allotment of new shares to several companies (1st time in
2022)
- Forms capital and business alliance agreement with Sojitz Corporation
- Certified as "ME-BYO BRAND"
by Kanagawa Prefecture
- Questions about nematode cancer testing technology used in 2022 entrance
exams at a national university and a private high school
- Begins offering N-NOSE Peace-of-Mind After-Sales Service (free of charge)
for users judged to be at high risk on N-NOSE tests
- "Regular Testing" option added to the lineup of N-NOSE testing
services
- Forms capital and business alliance with Tokyu Agency Inc.
- N-NOSE testing used for group screening of residents for the first time in
Japan,
in health promotion project in Samani, Hokkaido
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu presents at the 63rd Annual Scientific Meeting
of Japan Society of Ningen Dock
- Video released to celebrate the 25,000th N-NOSE user
- Our first clinical study on the use of N-NOSE with pets (cats and dogs)
published in Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports (BB Reports)
- Introduces executive officer system
- Joins the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators Community
- New joint clinical research partners:Osaka
University, Department of Medical Data Science; The University of Tokyo, Department of
Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery; The University of Tokyo, Department of Hepatobiliary
and Pancreatic Surgery (2); Tokushima University, Department of Hematology (2); Kawasaki
Medical School, Department of Gastroenterology; Hyogo Medical University, Department of
Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
2023
- The first next-generation "cancer type specific test" for the "N-NOSE®", "N-NOSE® plus Pancreas" has been commercialized.
- Forms capital and business alliance agreement with Anicom Insurance, Inc.
- Started accepting advance orders for N-NOSE® dogs, a cancer screening for "Pet Dogs"
- Hirotsu Bio Science Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Global Health Equity Fund, Aims to Expand Overseas Deployment of N-NOSE®
- Attended the World Economic Forum New Champions Annual Meeting 2023
- Opens a store on Tmall Global, a cross-border e-commerce platform operated by Alibaba Group
- N-NOSE users exceed 500,000
- CEO Takaaki Hirotsu speaks at "STS forum 2023" public symposium
- Cancer risk screening for cats "N-NOSE Cats" now available
- Participation in "UBS Disruptive Technology CEO Summit 2023"
- Official Partner Agreement signed with Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo
- Allocation of new shares to a third party (1st time in 2023)
- New Director/CSO appointed
2024
- Number of corporate customers for N-NOSE exceeds 2,000
- Demonstration experiment on unattended sales and collection of "N-NOSE" starts
- Success in developing a new cancer type specific test for liver cancer
- Global CFO Appointed for Overseas Expansion
- Launch new service for corporate "N-NOSE for Business"
- Published a paper on the results of a large-scale clinical study of "N-NOSE"
- Allocation of new shares to a third party (1st time in 2024)