About KOTAI

About KOTAI

Company Overview

Company Name KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc.
Representatives Kazuo Yamashita (CEO)
Location 2F, Bldg. B, Office for Industry-University Co-Creation, Osaka University,
2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
Phone 06-6170-5267
Date of incorporation May 30, 2016
Closing month June
Business Immune AI platform and data analysis
Capital 15,000 thousand Japanese yen
Numbers of employee 11 (As of October 30, 2020)

Biography

Kazuo Yamashita. Co-founder and CEO, KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc.

Kazuo Yamashita

March 2012
Ph. D. in Physics, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University
April 2012
Specially Appointed Researcher, System Immunology Laboratory, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University
April 2015
Specially Appointed Assistant Professor, System Immunology Laboratory, Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University
May 2016
Co-founder and CEO, KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc.

Papers and research themes

Majored in Physics at the Graduate School of Science, Osaka University and involved in theoretical research on novel ordered phases such as Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov (FFLO) and supersolid phases that possibly exist in extremely low temperature regions of photo-excited semiconductors and/or semimetals. The FFLO study was featured as a cover of the journal.

Since 2012, worked in structural bioinformatics and systems biology as a specially appointed researcher and as a specially appointed assistant professor since 2015, at Osaka University Immunology Frontier Research Center, which is known as a world-class immunology research center. Utilized and developed various technologies and methods: in silico modeling, docking, design, molecular dynamics simulations, etc.

In collaboration with Astellas Pharma and the Institute for Protein Research at Osaka University, successfully established a state-of-the-art antibody structure modeling method that was proved in a blind contest, the Second Antibody Modeling Assessment (AMA-II), wherein the team ranked first among six invited groups. Encouraged by the fruitful results in this contest, developed an antibody-modeling server, Kotai Antibody Builder.

During this period, conducted numerous collaborative researches with immunologists, structural biologists, and chemists, and published more than 20 papers in world-renowned journals such as Immunity and Nature structural & molecular biology.

Founded KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc. in May 2016, and, as a Chief Executive Officer, has been developing and commercializing immune big data analysis pipeline.

This is a unique technology that combines state-of-the-art AI with a deep understanding of Immunology, and has gain recognition: being adopted by NEDO’s FY2017 AI System Joint Development Support Project.

In addition, focused on bioinformatics analysis that combines cutting-edge experimental technologies such as single-cell analysis, and gave many invited talks. Now KOTAI is recognized as a center for Immuno-informatics in Japan.

Management and Advisors

Directors

Chief Executive Officer   Kazuo Yamashita

Director   Kenji Nishimoto

Director   Koji Taguchi

Director   Fumio Nishikaku

Director   Kenji Takahashi

Business Partners

We have established research and development networks with the leading research institutes in Japan.

Figure of Business Partners

History

May, 2016
Established KOTAI Biotechnologies, Inc. (at Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture) (Capital: 1,820 thousand Yen)
Started business at Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University (at Suita-shi, Osaka Prefecture)
October, 2016
Third-party allotment of shares Capital increased to 26,820,000 yen.
August, 2017
Third-party allotment of shares Capital increased to 127,320,000 yen.
February, 2018
Newly established the office at Building B, Office of Industry-University Co-Creation, Osaka University (Suita-shi, Osaka) with the expansion of the business
August, 2018
Osaka Prefectural Government authorized the “Growth Industry Business Plan at the Special Integrated Area of Growth Industry (Suita Campus, Osaka University).”
February, 2019
Third-party allotment of shares Capital increased to 252,320,000 yen.
March, 2019
Closed the office at Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University and integrated into the Building B, Office of Industry-University Co-Creation, Osaka University
July, 2019
Relocate the head office from Osaka-shi, Osaka Prefecture to Suita-shi, Osaka Prefecture
August, 2019
Moved the laboratory to Building A, Office of Industry-University Co-Creation, Osaka University with the expansion of the business
March, 2020
Reduced capital to 10,000,000 yen without compensation
October, 2020
Third party allotment of shares Capital increased to 15,000,000 yen

Grants and subsidies adopted

July, 2018

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research project for practical use of infectious diseases”

  • Study on elucidation and improvement of immune pathology for HIV infection healing

Period 3 years

July, 2018

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization
”AI System Joint Development Support Project 2017 Supplementary Budget”

  • Development of antibody-enhanced AI based on high throughput experimental data

Period 1 year

August, 2018

The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
“Subsidy for measures to support small and medium-sized enterprises’ management 2018 (Strategic Basic Technology Advancement Support Project”

  • Development for identification method of autoantibodies and biomarkers that cause autoimmune diseases

Period 3 years

November, 2018

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research Project for the Creation of Next-Generation Cancer Medicine”

  • Clustering and phenotype analysis from T-cell receptor sequences

Period 3 years

April, 2019

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research project for practical use of infectious diseases, Research Project for Development of Innovative Drugs for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases”

  • Development of diagnostic methods for congenital and unknown infectious diseases by pathological approach
  • Development of basic technology in anticipation of introduction of nasal influenza vaccine

Period 3 years

October, 2019

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research Project for Practical Application of Innovative Cancer Medicine”

  • Spatio-temporal analysis of neoantigen-specific T cells by single cell sequence and application to therapeutic targets and biomarkers

Period 3 years

November, 2019

The Small and Medium Enterprise Agency
“2019 Manufacturing, Commerce and Service Advanced Cooperation Promotion Subsidy”

  • Providing high-precision cell experiment services that achieve large scale and low price

Period 1 year

April, 2020

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Innovative Advanced Research and Development Support Program Step Type (FORCE)”

  • Elucidation of involvement of neutrophil-activating regulators in the anti-tumor immune response in human lung cancer

Period 2 years

July, 2020

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases Research Infrastructure Creation Project (Research Area Utilizing Overseas Bases)“

  • Research and development of HIV-1 subtype A/E infections for treatment and prevention

Period 2 years and 9 months

August, 2020

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Program to Develop Countermeasure Technologies against Viral and Other Infectious Diseases”

  • Development of high-precision and high-performance immune monitoring technologies for SARS-CoV-2 infected patients

Period 6 months

April, 2021

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research Project for Practical Use of AIDS Prevention”

  • Study on novel immuno-cell therapies for the radical cure of HIV

Period 3 years

April, 2021

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research Project for Development Promotion of Innovative Drugs for Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases”

  • Exploratory study on COVID-19 vaccine biomarkers based on immune profiling

Period 1 year

May, 2021

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Research Project for the Creation of Next Generation Cancer Medicine”

  • Development of a method for single-cell analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with genomic abnormalities and elucidation of its clinical significance

Period 1 year

July, 2021

Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
“Japan Program for Infectious Diseases Research and Infrastructure”

  • Spatial transcriptomics and single cell analysis to study pathogenesis of viral hemorrhagic fever SFTS

Period 3 years

Access

2F, Bldg. B, Office for Industry-University Co-Creation, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871

Access to the Suita Campus, Osaka University

Our company is located on the Suita Campus of Osaka University, and access to the Suita Campus is as below.
https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/access

Map of Suita Campus

Click here for a map of Suita Campus of Osaka University.
Our office is in the building of 48th.
https://www.osaka-u.ac.jp/en/access/suita