CEO message
GEXVal Inc. started its journey in 2018 at Shonan iPark (Kanagawa, Japan), focusing on research and development of drugs for rare and untreatable diseases.
I have been engaged in drug discovery for over decades, but it was only recently when I attended an international conference for a rare disease sponsored by a patient advocacy group, that I realized the true seriousness of “access to medicine” issues that patients and families of rare disease1) are facing with. Together with colleagues who share the same thoughts, we spun-off from a pharmaceutical company.
From day one, we have been getting enormous support from various patient advocacy groups, medical professionals, and investors across the globe. As one united team who share the same goal, we always consider patients and families “first” and committed to address unmet medical needs. In 2021, we established a wholly owned subsidiary in Australia dedicated to clinical development. We are currently preparing for Ph2 studies.
To date, drug discovery for rare diseases is becoming the mainstream in the pharma industry - more than half of recently approved drugs are for rare diseases. Yet there is no approved drug for over 90% of rare diseases, meaning that patients and families are still facing serious “access to medicine” issues.
In the bitter reality that there is not enough medicine, we envision the society where people with rare diseases have stress-free access to medicine just like others. We strive to deliver innovative and life-changing medicines to patients and families who live with rare and untreatable diseases, leaving no one behind.
May 2024
Juran Kato, PhD
President and CEO, GEXVal Inc
1) Rare disease: Definition varies between countries. Japan (<50,000; <4 in 10,000, with population of 128 Million), US (<200,000; <6.37 in 10,000 with population of 330 Million), EU (<250,000; <5 in 10,000 with population of 514 Million).
Corporate philosophy
VISION & MISSION
Leaving no one behind
GEXVal tackles Access to Medicine
GEXVal is fully committed
to bringing hope and smile to those
who are waiting for better treatment options
Our VISION
For patients and families who live with
Rare and Intractable Diseases
GEXVal always considers patients-first
and strives to deliver innovative and affordable medicines to those who are waiting for
better treatment options
Our MISSION
GEXVal is
Purposed to RepurposeⓇ
shelved drugs for patients and families who live
with
rare and intractable diseases
Our STRATEGY
Drugs for Rare Diseases- Still More To Do
Definition of “rare disease” varies between countries
- Japan (<50,000、<4 in 10,000, with population of 128 Million)
- US (<200,000、<6.37 in 10,000 with population of 1400 Million)
- EU (<250,000、<5 in 10,000 with population of 514 Million)
 | > 7000 rare diseases |  | Only 5% have approved treatments |
 | 1/10 affected by rare diseases |  | 80% are genetic disorders |
 | Orphan Drugs Over 500 in development > 50% of recent FDA approvals |  | Incentives have created framework and opportunity for alternative approaches |
The Problem and GEXVal’s Solution
Origin of the company name
Although many compounds are generated during the drug discovery process, only a handful can actually reach becoming the final medicinal product, and most such compounds end up disappearing without coming into the spotlight. However, it is highly possible that some of these compounds may retain very significant potential. The acronym GEXVal was devised as a shortened form of Generate Extra Value, which refers to the process of identifying such promising compounds and nurturing new value through repositioning research.
Generate Extra Value
to deliver cost-effective, innovative treatment options to improve health and QoL of patients and families affected by rare and intractable diseases
Corporate symbol and color
Corporate symbol
The motif of our corporate symbol is an arrangement of a butterfly by the mizuhiki traditional cord art. Mizuhiki was brought to Japan from Chinese Sui Dynasty around the 7th century. Since then, it has developed into its unique use for decorating gifts in Japan.
One of the ways to make mizuhiki cords is known as the crown knot for amulet bags. It features a square knot on the front side and a crossed knot on the back side, which, when combined, form the Japanese character kano meaning “wish comes true”.
Our corporate symbol embodies our hopes and strong dedication to delivering medicine to patients as swiftly as possible.
Corporate color
The corporate color of GEXVal Inc. is komurasaki (dark purple). We selected komurasaki for our corporate color because purple is the symbolic color for the patient group of a rare disease, which is the focused project at GEXVal. We also chose this color given there is a Japanese butterfly known as “Komurasaki” and our GEXVal corporate logo features a butterfly.
Komurasaki is a refined dark purple color from the fruit of Komurasaki plant. It is a classic Japanese color and noble color. A reference to Komurasaki is made in the Nihon Shoki chronicles dating back to the mid-7th century. It is included in the historical Japanese nobility system (the ‘seven-colored, thirteen-grade cap ranking system’), where court ranks were indicated by headgear colors.
'Komurasak' Butterfly
Scientific name: Apatura metis substituta
Komurasaki butterfly belongs to the nymphalidae apaturinae family, also known as “Freyer’s purple emperor”. These butterflies are brown-colored at first glance. However, when they are actively flying around in the afternoon and evening, the scales on the inside of male butterflies’ wings emit a vivid purple adjusted to the surrounding light, which is how they got their name.
In Japan, this species is found almost nationwide from Hokkaido to Kyushu. In Kanagawa Prefecture, also home to our corporate office, it is becoming an endangered species listed in the Red Data Book.
'Komurasaki' Plant
Scientific name: Callicarpa dichotoma
Komurasaki plant belongs to the Scutellaridae genus, also known as “Koshikibu”. It is found in the warm to subtropical regions of Taiwan and China as well as in the Ryukyu archipelago, south of Honshu in Japan.
The name seems to have originated based on a reference to being smaller than the Murasakishikibu plant , but in actual fact, Komurasaki has a more lavish foliage with clustered purple fruit hanging on the plant.
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