PharmaTelevision - LivTech Inc: Dr. Koji Nakamura & Dr. Toru Kanke on the Origins and Technology of LivTech

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Video title: LivTech Inc: Dr. Koji Nakamura & Dr. Toru Kanke on the Origins and Technology of LivTech

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In this episode of PharmaTelevision News Review, Fintan Walton talks to Dr. Koji Nakamura and Dr. Toru Kanke from LivTech. They discuss:

• Clinical projects and Functions of LIV2008

• Licensing agreement with Kyowa Hakko Kirin

• Business model and future partnering strategies

Full video transcripts are available with PharmaTelevision Premium Content. Click here to buy a subscription or sign up for a 14 day free trial.

Origins and technology of LivTech

Fintan Walton:

Hello and welcome to PharmaTelevision News Review here at the Japan Biotech Forum here at The Royal Society in London. On this show I have Koji Nakamura , who is the CEO of a company called LivTech and with him is his colleague Toru Kanke, who is the Senior Research and Development Manager, welcome to the show both of you.

Koji Nakamura:

Nice to meet you.

Toru Kanke:

Thank you for your invitation.

Fintan Walton:

So the first question I'd like to ask you Koji is that what is the origin of LivTech?

Koji Nakamura:

Yes so LivTech is relied on the academic and the public institute in Kanagawa Prefecture in Japan, we studied I was a research scientist in the Public Research Institute in Kanagawa named KAST (Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology), we studied about the liver, development and regeneration of tissue stem cells in the liver.

Full video transcripts are available with PharmaTelevision Premium Content. Click here to buy a subscription or sign up for a 14 day free trial.

Fintan Walton

Dr Fintan Walton is the Founder and CEO of PharmaVentures . After completing his doctoral research on the genetics of cell proliferation at the University of Michigan(US)and Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland), Dr Walton gained broad commercial experience in biotechnology in management positions at Bass and Celltech plc (1982-1992).

Koji Nakamura

President

Koji Nakamura Ph.D. is founder and chief scientist of LivTech Inc and has been leading the company from its start-up to one of the most promising biotechnology companies in Japan. Under his leadership and management, LivTech has to date brought in a generation of therapeutic lead antibodies with strong anti-tumor activities. He played a pivotal role in licensing out LivTech's first-in-class anti-tumor antibody, LIV 1205, to Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co Ltd. Prior to establishing LivTech in March 2004, Dr. Koji Nakamura conducted research under the Stem Cell Regulation Project at KAST (Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology) for five years, which forms the foundation of LivTech's research activities. This work followed on from his work on liver development at the Laboratory of Cellular biosynthesis, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences at the University of Tokyo under the supervision of Professor Miyajima. His research career started at the Discovery Research Laboratories of Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd. where he took on the role of a research scientist from 1995 to 1998. Dr. Koji Nakamura was awarded his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, following M.S. and B.S. studies in Biology at Kyushu University.

Toru Kanke

Lab Manager

Dr. Toru Kanke is an experienced scientist in pharmaceutical research. He worked in drug development projects as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and also as Manager and chief lab researcher of New Drug Research Laboratories, Molecular Biology Group at Kowa Company Ltd. He also conducted clinical development of medical devices as a Deputy General Manager of Regulatory & Quality Department in a biotech start-up company. Dr. Toru Kanke graduated from the University of Tokyo in Agricultural Biology (B.S. and M.S.) and was awarded his Ph.D. in Physiology and Pharmacology from Strathclyde University in the U.K. where he worked and studied as a visiting scientist.

PharmaVentures

PharmaVentures is a corporate finance and transactions advisory firm that has served hundreds of clients worldwide in relation to their strategic deal making in the pharmaceutical, life science and healthcare sectors. Our key offerings include: Transactions / deal negotiations; Product / technology valuations; Deal term advice; Due diligence & expert reports; Strategy formulation; Alliance management; and Expert opinion for litigation/arbitration cases. PharmaVentures provides the global expertise to ensure our clients generate the highest possible return on investment from all their deal making activities. We have experience of all therapeutic areas and can offer advice on both product and technology commercialisation.

LivTech Inc

LivTech is a privately owned biotech company based in Kanagawa, Japan. LivTech was founded in 2004 in order to translate cutting-edge cancerstem cells research at KAST (Kanagawa Academy of Science and Technology) into the discovery and development of therapeutic antibodies targeting malignant tumors. It has developed a unique research platform that generates antibodies against target molecules involved in carcinogenesis and has patented a number of lead candidates that have been shown to have significant anti-cancer activity. LivTech has licensed one of its lead antibodies to Kyowa Hakko Kirin in 2008 and is currently seeking partnerships for assets in its pipeline. LivTech is committed to delivering new therapeutic antibodies to contribute to the global fight against -cancer.

LivTech Inc