Hardy T S Kagimoto MD

Chief Executive Officer & President of Healios KK (Retina Institute Japan KK) and Aqumen (KK&NA) After graduating from Kyushu University in 2002, Dr. Kagimoto established Aqumen Biopharmaceuticals KK in 2005. Dr. Kagimoto succeeded in the commercialization of his first product (ILM Blue) in September 2010 and started selling it throughout Europe. This product acquired a high reputation and achieved industry wide standards. To date (as of June 2013), Dr. Kagimoto is the only person in Japan to have launched a university-based bioventure company by successfully overcoming the challenges of commercializing university-based technology, a concept commonly referred to as the ‘Valley of Death’. Dr. Kagimoto is the CEO and President of Healios KK (Retina Institute Japan KK) which is expecting to conduct the very first clinical trials utilizing iPS cells, the medical technology that was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine and Physiology in 2012. Dr. Kagimoto has won the honorary title of 1st Youth Economic New Star Award in East Asia, which is sponsored by the All-China Youth Federation, Development Association for Youth Worker and Korea-China Youth Culture Exchange Association. Also won the Gold Medal, Japan Venture Awards 2011: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Gold Medal, Fukuoka Venture Market 2012: Fukuoka Industry, Science & Technology Foundation