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  • 2019.11.21
  • Investment

Additional Investment in Luxonus Inc.

Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO-iCAP No.1 Fund"), with Kyoto University Innovation Capital Corporation ("Kyoto iCAP") (Head Office: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Koji Murota) as the general partner, has made an additional investment in Luxonus Inc. ("Luxonus") (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Sadakazu Aiso), a venture company that utilizes research results from Kyoto University.

Outline of this investment
Luxonus is a university-launched venture that aims to commercialize a general-purpose imaging device capable of early detection of diseases and diagnosis of disease status using its proprietary photoacoustic 3D imaging (PAI-3D) technology. With this funding, Luxonus will promote the development of a mass-produced device, aiming to launch it as a physical and chemical instrument for research institutions in 2021 and as a medical device for medical institutions in 2022.

PAI-3D is a technology that uses a special sensor to supplement ultrasound waves generated by pulsed light irradiation to the living body, and computer analysis of the data received is used to create images. Compared to existing imaging techniques such as ultrasound, X-ray computed tomography (CT), and nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), PAI-3D enables ultra-high resolution 3D imaging of blood vessels without exposure to radiation or invasiveness (no contrast agent is used). It can also visualize oxygen saturation of blood flow, etc., and is expected to be utilized for preoperative planning and verification of the effects of medication.

The practical application of PAI-3D will enable wide-area, ultra-high-resolution imaging of diseases (vascular disorders, lymphedema, breast cancer, etc.) for which early diagnosis and diagnosis of disease status have been difficult with existing imaging techniques, thereby improving treatment outcomes. This is expected to lead to improved treatment outcomes.

This Luxonus technology is based on research results from the "Kyoto University-Canon Project" (conducted from FY 2006 to FY 2015), a joint research project between Kyoto University and Canon Inc. and the Innovative R&D Promotion Program (ImPACT) by the Cabinet Office, "Innovative Visualization Technology for the Creation of New Growth Industries through Innovative Visualization Technology" (implemented from FY 2014 to FY 2018, with participation from Kyoto University, Keio University, Canon, Hitachi, Ltd. and Japan Probe, among others).

Kyoto iCAP has underwritten 140 million yen of the Series A procurement totaling approximately 600 million yen in anticipation of the potential to improve treatment outcomes for refractory diseases through the use of the PAI-3D device. The following companies participated in this procurement together with Kyoto iCAP

Participating Companies
Keio Innovation Initiative (KII) Inc.
President and Representative Director: Hirotaro Yamagishi
Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo
URL:. https://www.keio-innovation.co.jp/

Ltd. (JOMDD)
Representative Director: Takehiko Uchida
Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo
URL:https://jomdd.com/

OKB Capital Co.
Representative Director: Hidemitsu Iinuma
Location: Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture
URL:https://www.okb.co.jp/investor/profile/connect.html

Shibaura Institute of Technology
Chairman: Hisaya Igarashi
Location: Minato-ku, Tokyo
URL:https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/educational_foundation/

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.
President and Representative Director: Shinsuke Sakamoto
Location: Chuo-ku, Tokyo
URL:https://www.mucap.co.jp/

Yokohama Capital Co.
President and Representative Director: Norio Kushibuchi
Location: Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture
URL:https://www.boy.co.jp/hojin/venture/

KSP Corporation
President and Representative Director: Hirohisa Uchida
Location: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture
URL:https://www.ksp.co.jp/

Outline of Luxonus Corporation

Establishment December 2018
Business Development of an image capturing device applying photo-ultrasonic technology
Head Office Location Minato Ward, Tokyo
President & CEO Sadakazu Aiso

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