Team

Keiichi "Kein" Kiyota, MBA
Director, Chief Financial Officer

Kein joined GEXVal as an Executive Advisor in July 2022 and was appointed Director in 2024

During his time at Meiji University's Faculty of Agriculture, Kein demonstrated his proactive nature by backpacking across Asia and serving as the chairman of the university festival committee. He further honed his analytical skills by winning a national East-West student debate championship. After graduation, he achieved outstanding performance as a Medical Representative (MR) at Sandoz Pharmaceutical Ltd. (now Novartis Pharma K.K.), meeting sales targets for seven consecutive terms and receiving the Excellence Award. He then made a strategic career shift into the biotech industry, where he has built a unique 25-year career including founding his own biotech venture.

One of his notable achievements came in 2011, during the aftermath of the global financial crisis, when he successfully led a biotech company's IPO on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (then Mothers) as CFO. He has since been involved in the management of multiple biotech companies, establishing internal controls while orchestrating major fundraising rounds, pharmaceutical alliances, and M&A deals.

Beyond the office, Kein once was known as a competitive tropical fishes breeder, maintaining an impressive collection of 75 aquariums for over three decades. His latest passion extends to cultivating curated collection of indoor plants and tending to his meticulously designed small rose garden with expert-level precision. Whether in finance or his personal pursuits, his relentless dedication to mastery defines his approach to every endeavor.

Nobuaki Hirashima
Director, Chief Business Officer

Nobu joined GEXVal in 2021, where he leads corporate strategy and business development initiatives.

In his impressive three-decade journey through the pharmaceutical industry, following his graduation from the Graduate School of Agriculture at Kyushu University, he has contributed to the successful launch of five new drugs while working at major companies including Shiseido Co., Ltd., Summit Pharmaceuticals International Corp., Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT), and several global pharmaceutical firms. His expertise spans from preclinical research to clinical development and business development. Throughout his career, he has led numerous business development initiatives for biotech ventures and steered M&A deals, eventually serving as CEO of a listed biotech subsidiary. Committed to fostering industry growth, he actively organizes study sessions for young professionals, contributing to the broader development of the biotech sector.

Nobu's meticulous professionalism and spirit of exploration are reflected in his 30-year camping journey. On weekends, drawn by the crisp natural air, Nobu heads to his favorite spots near Mount Fuji's foothills and serene lakesides. With careful attention to detail, he sets up his carefully selected ZANE ARTS gear, creating a comfortable outdoor sanctuary where he immerses himself in cooking while enjoying IPA.
As twilight approaches, Nobu's excitement builds with the anticipation of the campfire's aroma, as he loses himself in books beneath the star-filled sky. These moments, where nature and literature intertwine, bring him profound contentment.

Whether in pharmaceutical development or in outdoor pursuits, Nobu consistently maintains his approach of balancing meticulous attention to detail with grand vision.

Kohei Shimada, PhD
Director, Chief Scientific Officer

Kohei joined GEXVal in 2022.

After completing his master's degree at the University of Tokyo Graduate School, he started his career at Sankyo Co., Ltd. (now Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.). Over three decades, he has conducted extensive pharmacological research across various therapeutic areas including bone and joint diseases, inflammation, immunology, fibrosis, and cell therapy, while engaging in drug candidate discovery research. During his career, he served as a visiting scientist at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California, USA. He later led open innovation initiatives, fostering collaborative research with external partners.

At GEXVal, he is advancing drug discovery research aimed at addressing unmet medical needs in collaboration with researchers from overseas academic and medical institutions, as well as patient advocacy groups.

On weekends, Kohei enjoys playing rounds of golf at various courses across the country with his longtime friends from high school and university days. He's deeply inspired by Bobby Jones’s famous quote: "The worth of a man is not measured by the wealth he accumulates, but by the number of his friends." For Kohei, golf is not just about the game itself, but about cherishing and nurturing lasting friendships.

This collaborative spirit carries over to his research approach, where he values gathering and listening to diverse perspectives, often finding inspiration that leads to innovative breakthroughs.

Nobuo Ito, MBA
Outside Director

CEO, TenCube Inc.
Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan (CMA)

After graduating from the Faculty of Economics at Keio University and completing his degree at Hitotsubashi University's Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy, Mr. Ito has built an extensive 30-year career in finance and treasury across various organizations, from listed company executives to startups and investment funds. His professional journey includes roles at the Bank of Japan, serving as General Manager of Corporate Planning at eBank Bank, Ltd. (now Rakuten Bank, Ltd., a subsidiary of Rakuten Group, Inc. listed on the Prime Market of TSE), and Director of Finance and Corporate Planning at a MINATO HOLDINGS INC. (listed on the Standard Market of TSE). Currently, he focuses on providing part-time CFO services to various organizations.

Mr. Ito has been serving GEXVal as Senior Advisor (Finance) since 2020 and was appointed as Outside Director in 2021.

Yunmi Kim,
Outside Director

CEO, YK Venture Partners (Seoul, Korea).

Ms. Kim was appointed as Outside Director of GEXVal in 2021.

Yusuke Nakayama, PhD, MEng
Chief Tecnology Officer

Yusuke joined Team GEXVal in 2024.

Yusuke earned his Master's degree in Engineering from Nagoya University and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from University of Tsukuba.
Yusuke spent over two decades at Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. and Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., driving pharmaceutical innovations across a broad spectrum - from target discovery and translational research to drug repurposing. Leveraging his unique background in both biological sciences and engineering, combined with his expertise in pharmacoinformatics, he is pioneering new frontiers in AI-driven drug discovery at GEXVal.

During his career at Takeda, he and our CEO Dr. Kato received the Director's Award for developing a novel profiling tool for drug candidate compounds. Drawing on their collaborative experience in pharmaceutical research and AI implementation, he is now accelerating a paradigm shift in drug discovery through the development of our company's platform.

Outside of coding and digital innovations, Yusuke is a cat lover and an avid shogi (Japanese chess) player who has recently installed the latest AI engine on his home PC to improve his game after starting to lose matches to his son. On Sundays, Yusuke enjoys watching professional shogi matches on TV with his beloved cat purring contentedly on his lap.

Mami Ojima
Research Fellow
Co-Founder

Mami co-founded GEXVal in 2018. After serving two terms as Chief Knowledge Officer (CKO), she assumed her current position in 2022.

As a preclinical pharmacology expert in cardiovascular diseases, Mami built her career spanning over 35 years at Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., where she conducted non-clinical research of drug candidates. Her contributions to identifying active compounds led to the successful development of three major antihypertensive drugs that became key products for Takeda, earning her multiple recognitions, including the Takeda President's Award and the Takeda Global Award.

At GEXVal, she has been contributing to the preparation of IND packages while leading differentiation and intellectual property strategies. Her expertise has been instrumental in securing global patent rights for cardiovascular projects.

A keen tennis player in high school, Mami had to step away from competitive play due to an injury. Still passionate about sports, Mami once visited Mt. McKinley for rehabilitation, where she experienced a unique small aircraft landing on a glacier using skis. Overwhelmed by the majestic glacier and the grandeur of nature, this experience sparked her interest in outdoor activities. The Himalayas marks the highest altitude she has ever reached! More recently, she has become a big fan of baseball superstar Ohtani and takes pride in their shared hometown roots.

Takashi Arima, PhD, RPh, QIA*
QIA*: Qualified Internal Auditor
Head,Clinical Development Unit

Joined Team GEXVal in 2021.

After completing his graduate studies at Hokkaido University, Takashi spent most of his career in the R&D division at Taiho Pharmaceutical, starting with drug discovery for neurological disorders. Takashi eventually moved into strategic planning before transitioning to clinical development, where he established himself as an expert in early-phase global studies. At Taiho Pharma USA Inc., he led early-phase development programs for anti-cancer drugs. Upon returning to Japan, he managed product strategy and portfolio management in the executive office, while also engaging in venture management. His versatile experience expanded to serving as an internal auditor for both R&D and corporate divisions, including a period in IR management. More recently, as Vice President at a biotech company, he contributed significantly to the clinical development of anti-cancer drugs. He contributed over 20 scientific publications and many presentations.

At GEXVal, he leads a multidisciplinary global team with members from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, and beyond, consistently delivering results. His leadership style combines meticulous attention to detail with strong forward momentum in coordinating diverse opinions and decision-making. He maintains a hands-on approach while creating clear roadmaps that guide teams to success.

Takashi, who once explored Japan's countryside on his motorcycle in his younger days, has now become a million-mile traveler through his global business activities. In his free time, he finds joy in gardening, growing both vegetables and flowers while documenting their growth through photography. He particularly enjoys making homemade pickles from his garden harvest.

Takako Naito, RPh
Director, Clinical Development Unit
Co-Founder

Takako co-founded GEXVal in 2018.

At GEXVal, Takako oversees comprehensive R&D tasks, ranging from basic research and preparation of clinical trial initiation packages to intellectual property strategy and external partnerships. In clinical development, she leads translational research while advancing new therapeutic approaches through deep engagement with international researchers and patient advocacy groups to understand medical needs.

During her tenure at Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takako contributed to multiple Investigational New Drug (IND) applications across various countries, including one successfully marketed product, also is named as an inventor on several patents. Her extensive research experience spans multiple therapeutic areas including infectious diseases, inflammatory and immunological disorders, bone and joint diseases, and fibrosis. She demonstrated versatility in research methodologies, from wet biology and bioinformatics to strategic drug repurposing approaches. Takako also secured internal grants to actively drive strategic initiatives in rare disease research.

Takako's curiosity for new experiences drives her both professionally and personally. She enjoys experimenting with international cuisine and seasonal desserts, while discovering local delicacies and scenic views through hiking and travel adventures. Her dedication to yoga at Shonan iPark has continued for over a decade. This same spirit of embracing change and new challenges enriches both her personal pursuits and professional approach.

Atsushi Sugizaki, CPA
Head, Corporate Office

Joined Team GEXVal in 2024 to lead the Corporate Office.

Beginning his career as a CPA at an auditing firm, Atsushi moved to Bridgestone Corporation (listed on the Prime Market of TSE), where he engaged in treasury operations including foreign exchange risk management and financing. He later expanded his expertise across all corporate functions, from IPO preparation and business planning to finance, accounting, HR, and general affairs in both biotech and SaaS venture companies.

Growing up in Shonan, a renowned surfing destination on Japan's eastern coast, naturally cultivated his passion for outdoor activities. During his university years, he was an active member of a remote island exploration club, and today he continues to embrace outdoor life, particularly enjoying soccer with his family on weekends. His enthusiasm for active pursuits mirrors his dynamic approach to corporate leadership.

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Yuko Kondo
Associate Director, Corporate Office
Executive Secretary

Yuko joined Team GEXVal in 2021.

Before joining GEXVal, she gained her business skills at a consulting firm managing international manufacturers. Yuko then played a key role in establishing a Japanese subsidiary of a global beverage company, where she led operations across the entire value chain, from manufacturing to logistics. Her career path later led her to a tech startup, where she served as an executive secretary while managing various aspects of venture business operations.

A passionate global explorer, Yuko has traveled to more than 50 countries, embracing each destination's unique atmosphere and culture through spontaneous journeys. These experiences have cultivated her deep understanding of different cultures and keen sensitivity to the distinct characteristics of various languages and cultural nuances.

While her future travels remain an open book, her can-do spirit and negotiation skills developed through her global experiences prove invaluable in managing the diverse challenges of corporate operations in our venture business.