Message from CEO
“Changing the World with Silkworms.” Does that sound like an exaggeration?
In the Meiji era (1868 – 1912), after Japan opened up to the world at the end of the Edo period, the trade commodity that introduced Japan to the world was raw silk produced by silkworms. However, with the passage of time, the role of silkworms diminished, and they eventually became insects that went largely unnoticed by people. Research was conducted at Kyushu University on giving silkworms a new role, and based on those research results, our company was founded in 2018.
From the time of our founding, we declared that we would make vaccines using silkworms, but we were constantly told “You can’t make medicine from insects. There’s no precedent for using them for human applications.” Even so, believing in the potential of silkworms, we continued development and succeeded in commercializing an oral vaccine (edible vaccine) that only silkworms can produce. We’ll start with an oral vaccine and feed additive for pigs, but our goal is to complete an oral vaccine for human use in the future.
KAICO has been supported by many people, and we have finally received research funding from the government as a next-generation vaccine modality for the next pandemic. It will still take time to realize a silkworm-derived vaccine for human use, but when that time comes, we believe it can save humanity from crises.
“Changing the World with Silkworms.”
Doesn’t that idea seem less like an exaggeration?
Team KAICO
Director
Toru Haraguchi
Pharmacist, CEO of Pharmaunion LLC. (Present)
As a board member of a pharmaceutical professional association, he has deep knowledge and insight regarding the pharmaceutical field, as well as management experience in the industry.
CTO
Masahiro Taniguchi
He is responsible for formulating and managing the overall technical strategy, ranging from contract protein expression to the development of vaccines.
PhD., Pharmacist
CFO
Yuki Kumazaki
She has experience in loan management improvement services at the Eighteenth Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Research & Consulting. As CFO, she is responsible for fundraising and financial management.
Outside Director
Koji Abe
Director, ITOCHU Technology Ventures (Current Position)
Possesses extensive experience and expertise in global business development and startup investment.
Outside Director
Dai Tsujikawa
Partner, FFG Venture Business Partners (Current Position)
Brings extensive experience across a wide range of fields, from manufacturing to life sciences, and from seed to growth stages.
Outside Director
Megumi Takata
Professor, Kyushu University Graduate Department of Economic Research
He also serves as the director of the Entrepreneurship Center and has deep insight into startup management.
Auditor
Satoru Fukuda
Former Executive Managing Officer of Fukuoka Bank, Former Deputy President of Shinwa Bank, and Former President & CEO of FFG Venture Business Partners
Possesses deep insight and extensive experience cultivated over a long career in the financial industry.
General Manager
Yo Nakahara
As a General Manager, he oversees departments, promotes the quality management system, and works to improve organizational performance.
Senior Manager,
Quality Assurance
Keiichi Esaki
He has been involved in product development based on research results, and has contributed to establishing a manufacturing management system for stable supply.
Senior Manager,
Research & Development
Tomoki Sasaki
He has been involved in establishing the production technology foundation and evaluation methods for vaccines and supplements.
Senior Manager,
Production Equipment
Sadayuki Koga
Leads the establishment of production systems by leveraging expertise gained in the engineering sector.
Manager,
Production Development
Hirokazu Nakatake
He has contributed to contract protein expression using the silkworm-baculovirus system, as well as the production of reagents and feed.
Manager, Quality Assurance
Keiko Sakai
Previously, she was involved in industrialization research, manufacturing, quality control, and quality assurance operations at an API manufacturing company. At KAICO, she is in charge of quality assurance duties.
Manager, Business Development
Takuya Hirano
Responsible for negotiations with partners for the commercialization of feed additives, as well as exploring alliances with external companies.