Adriakaim

About Adriakaim

Adriakaim Inc. is a Japanese medical device company founded in November 2018 by Masatoshi Kobayashi. It spun out of Olympus Corporation, a major medical device manufacturer, after the parent company decided to exit the cardiovascular field. The development team, led by Kobayashi who has been with Olympus since 1982 and held several leadership roles in R&D, purchased the technology assets and patents to establish Adriakaim. The company's name reflects this history, derived from the idea of being "from the Adriatic Sea," representing gratitude to "Mount Olympus" and their dreams for the future.

The company is developing a novel treatment device system for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Its core product is a minimally invasive medical device that uses electrical stimulation on the vagus nerve to reduce the severity and progression to chronic heart failure after an AMI. This technology, based on over 10 years of research from the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center in Japan, aims to activate the body's natural healing capabilities by stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, an approach not achieved with currently available medications. The device, with the development code name ARIS, is designed to be a Class III or IV medical device.

Adriakaim operates in the medical technology market, specifically targeting a significant unmet need. In Japan, while many AMI patients' lives are saved through advanced catheter treatments, about 30% still develop severe chronic heart failure. The company has completed non-clinical studies and is preparing for clinical trials in Japan. Its business model revolves around the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of these proprietary medical devices. Adriakaim has secured significant funding to accelerate development and global expansion, including a $3M seed round in August 2020 led by UTokyo Innovation Platform and a later-stage VC round in June 2023 that made SCREEN Holdings an equity method affiliate.