A wealth of data is our strength. The database of intestinal Flora test is expected to exceed 100,000 people by 2023.
First of all, please tell us about your company's business.
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: Through the intestinal Flora test "Mykinso", we conduct a business to visualize intestinal bacteria living in the large intestine and provide advice on lifestyle habits".
If you pick up your stool at home using the test kit obtained from online shopping or medical checkup options, put it in the attached reply envelope, and you will receive it to the Shinkiba Lab. Over the next three weeks, we analyzed the intestinal bacteria contained in the stool and said, "Your intestinal bacteria contains such a lot, so let's improve such lifestyle there. Let's put out a test result report.
What was the reason for you to work on this project?
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: Our company was founded in 2014, but Mr. Sawai, the representative, was enrolled in a genomic venture before that.
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: A device that automatically reads genes is called a sequencer, but a long time ago, it had only the ability to read genetic information of about 1 to 100 kinds of bacteria over the night. However, around 2005, a device called the "next-generation sequencer" was developed, and its ability jumped up from 100,000 to millions of times, so to speak, `` millions of bacteria can be read overnight '' It became.
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: Furthermore, in response to the fact that the intestinal flora began to attract attention in the academic field, I heard that Cychinsaw was founded with the desire to "analyze gut microbiota" that has different body and balance, thereby leading to personalized healthcare services and disease prevention."
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: Currently, the Cykin So Shinkiba Lab receives thousands of samples per month, and the database of bacterial flora has reached over 80,000 people in total. We expect to exceed 100,000 people by the end of 2023.
We were able to accumulate that much data because we worked on the intestinal Flora analysis business.
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: Yes. The abundance of this data is also a strength of Ckinsaw. The large population of data increases the accuracy of evaluation and verification.
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: Shanai Engineers are also responsible for building database construction, so the point is that they can consistently perform everything from inspection to data analysis and management. It is also possible to respond flexibly to changes in service content.
Incidentally, in January 2023, we began providing anonymously processed information on intestinal flora data for 9,147 people, a so-called data sales service. This data can be used as data for "people who have a specific disease" or "people who have taken certain foods" in clinical tests such as medicine, healthcare, and food. In other words, it can also help smartly advance the "clinical testing of human beings," which tend to be large.
There are few rental labs in Tokyo that are within walking distance of the station and do not have a limited period of occupancy.
You seem to have joined Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 after you have decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1.
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: Yes. However, since I joined the company as the person in charge of the lab from the beginning, I am participating in concrete preparations, such as joining LINK-J.
Mr. Takeda (Mr. Aya), a director of our company, also told us that "I chose Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 after considerable consideration, trial and error." Among them, the good access was the decisive factor. Certainly, there are few facilities in Tokyo that are within walking distance from the station due to the scale and enhancement of such rental labs. Thanks to you, it's easy to get to and from the head office in Yoyogi.
He seems to have considered rental labs for public institutions, but there are many places where there is an upper limit on the occupancy period, so it seems that he wanted to avoid being bound under such conditions. On the other hand, I heard that Mitsui Link Lab has plenty of space for companies that are already occupying the building want to increase the floor space. The fact that we were able to sit down on our business and have a prospect for business expansion was also a great advantage.
Because both the lab and the facilities were available, we were able to disseminate information with a story.
How do you feel about Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1?
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: In setting up the lab, I was very helpful to have a waste disposal and white coat cleaning company introduced at Mitsui Link Lab. From such details, to the point where we support young companies like our company to connect with other companies at exchange meetings, etc., we have been doing trial and error in everything, and I always think about what kind of service should I have. "
How about buildings and facilities?
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: Cafe lunch is a popular choice for both lab staff and employees coming from the head office. There are not many restaurants around the area, so I was prepared to prepare a convenience store lunch before moving in, but now I take care of the cafe almost every day. It's popular not only for residents but also for the people around the area, so it's a bit troublesome to have a day when they sell out immediately (laughs).
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: From a public relations perspective, I feel that the combination of laboratories and facilities has a high synergistic effect in terms of information dissemination. At the time of the opening of the lab, we made a press release here, but it was a site of the laboratory, so it was a place where the story could be felt, and it was a perfect environment for the presentation venue, and the response of presses and investors was excellent.
Since there is this place and space, it would be nice to have the opportunity to interact not only with companies but also with local people. For example, you can set up a tour package for the "Gut Flora Study Session" where families can participate in the summer vacation and can also be free study for children. It is a very difficult project depending on the location of the lab, but I think Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 will surely be realized in a good way.
While pursuing the quality of the intestinal Flora test, I would like to work on "new tests" and "health promotion" beyond that.
How would you like to expand your business at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 in the future?
Mr. Sikinso Murakami: Since we have set up such a laboratory in our company, we would like to invest firmly in research and development and create something that can be used in clinical practice with clear evidence for specific diseases.
On top of that, we would like to expand not only the bacteria in the intestines but also the bacteria to be analyzed. For example, from the analysis of bacteria in the mouth that can be understood from saliva, we would like to work on approaches to things that cannot be understood by bacteria in the intestines alone.
From these developments, do you mean that we will acquire our own position, or we want to increase what we can do because we have a lot of data.
Mr. Saikinso Daiko: Fortunately, a science concierge also comes to Mitsui Link Lab, and there is a service that supports the creation of new collaborations with universities and other institutions for new research and projects. And personally, I would like to focus on the solution part after the inspection. Seeing the results of the test results, not the end, but we can also provide support for working on improvements. Earlier, I mentioned that everything from inspection to data management, but in the future I would like to be involved in the "integration from inspection to improvement efforts" including beyond that.