Human Life CORD

The inspiration for the company came from founder Masamitsu Harata's experience while working at a pharmaceutical company in the U.S., where he witnessed a young patient with a congenital disorder recover enough to undergo a bone marrow transplant after being treated with placenta-derived mesenchymal stromal cells. This event motivated him to pursue the potential of cell therapies. After this experience, Harata obtained an MBA in New York, where he developed the business plan for what would become Human Life CORD. His prior experience includes roles in basic research, clinical development at pharmaceutical firms like Amgen and Nippon Kayaku, and management.

The company's core business revolves around creating an ecosystem for utilizing umbilical cords, which are typically discarded, as a source for cell therapies. In partnership with the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Tokyo (IMSUT), Human Life CORD has established an integrated supply chain. This includes the collection of umbilical cords, research and development, manufacturing of cellular products, and distribution. The foundational technology was developed by Dr. Tokiko Nagamura of IMSUT. In 2019, a major milestone was achieved when the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Health and Welfare relaxed regulations, allowing the umbilical cord to be used as a raw material for cell products, a significant barrier removal for the company.

Human Life CORD is advancing its lead product, HLC-001, through clinical trials for treating non-infectious pulmonary complications (NIPCs) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The product has completed a Phase II trial and is being prepared for Phase III. In August 2025, HLC-001 received a "Regenerative Medical Product for Rare Diseases" designation from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The company also has research underway for other indications, including sarcopenia and immunological diseases. To support its global ambitions, Human Life CORD has formed strategic alliances, including a manufacturing collaboration with New York Blood Center Enterprises to establish a scalable, cross-border manufacturing platform. The company's business model involves partnerships with organizations like Rohto Pharmaceutical, Mochida Pharmaceutical, and Alfresa Corporation for manufacturing and distribution.