Developing two pillars of business based on proteomics
First of all, please tell us about your business.
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: Currently, we are developing two major businesses. One is the SOMASCAN® DISCOVERY, a protein contract measurement service for pharmaceutical companies and universities that search for biomarkers and develop pharmaceuticals. The other is the "Forness Business," which supports the improvement of lifestyle habits by predicting the risk of developing future diseases from a small amount of blood for companies promoting health management, local governments, and individuals. Although the latter cannot diagnose diseases due to laws and regulations, it visualizes the future risks of diseases such as dementia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and lung cancer, and provides them as test results through medical institutions.
The core of our business is the "SomaScan®" technology, which measures about 7,000 types of proteins at once. This technology was established by the founder of the United States startup called SomaLogic Operating Co., Inc. (hereinafter referred to as SomaLogic), and the NEC (Nippon Electric Co., Ltd.) Group to which we belong quickly focused on the company and built a cooperative relationship over many years. In 2014, the NEC Group acquired exclusive marketing rights in Japan to commercialize the services that became the predecessor of SOMASCAN®DISCOVERY using this technology. After that, when SomaLogic succeeded in developing technology for predicting the risk of disease onset from multiple proteins, we established our company in April 2020 and newly branded "SOMASCAN®DISCOVERY" and "Forness Business".
What do you think is the "strengths" of your business?
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: We believe that SomaScan®, a protein measurement technology derived from SomaLogic, a future disease risk prediction technology based on the results, and the "comprehensive power" of the NEC Group's AI and big data analysis technology and IT solutions. Originally, "SomaScan®" is a highly original technology that embodies our collective strength, so many pharmaceutical companies and university researchers who use it to search for biomarkers and drug development say, "I'm a big fan of this technology!" "Forness Business" provides services in combination with NEC Group smartphone apps and healthcare products from other companies, which encourages not only research experts but also the general public to work on improving lifestyle habits while verifying and realizing the effects of improvement on their own. Recently, we have expanded the scope of our business by collaborating with several local governments to develop and provide services that lead to non-illness and prevention of residents.
It is also a great advantage that various learnings can be obtained through regular seminars.
Please tell us about your activities at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1.
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: Our laboratory in Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 (hereinafter referred to as Shinkiba Lab) carries out a series of processes in which we receive the core part of our business, namely frozen samples, measure proteins using an automatic analyzer, and output the results to data. Some specimens will be sent to the United States in frozen state because they need to be measured by SomaLogic in the United States.
Please tell us why you decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1.
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: In our business, it is essential to receive and receive frozen specimens with customers and send them to the United States, so the surrounding environment was very important. Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 has many shipping companies in the vicinity, and Haneda Airport is close to each other, and I felt the appeal of the access environment.
Mr. Fornes Life Kato (Yuzu): Our Shinkiba Lab opening project had a very tight schedule until the start of operation, so I think it was also a big point that Mitsui Fudosan was able to respond flexibly. At the schedule adjustment stage of pre-entering construction, we found that some parts could not be delivered in time, and there was a possibility that the start of operation could be delayed, but thanks to the step-by-step construction, we were able to start operation within the target month.
The head office building of the parent company (NEC Solution Innovator Co., Ltd.) is also located in Shinkiba.
Mr. Fornes Life Kato (Yuzu): Our parent company is very close to Shinkiba Station, and our close distance to us also helped us move in. In addition, I was strongly attracted to the fact that the lab supports biosafety level 2, as well as the facilities inside the building such as conference rooms and rest spaces that can be used for web conferences, and the interior is beautiful and stylish.
What kind of impression do you have when you actually move in? 。
Mr. Inoue, Forness Life: It's very helpful. Some of the reagents used for measurement require strict temperature control, but since the air conditioning can be operated 24 hours a day, it can be stored indoors. Since seminars on environmental laws and regulations and biosafety are held regularly, it is also an advantage that you can always get the latest information even if there is a law revision. Also, I was very grateful that I received emergency food and other disaster prevention goods when I moved in, because it was before preparation.
In the future, we want to aim for a One-Stop service that realizes a future where no one gets sick.
Do you have any opportunities to interact with other residents?
Mr. Fornes Life Kato (Yuzu): Participating in resident-only social gatherings to exchange business cards and introducing each other's companies triggered the exchange by greeting when they meet in the corridor, talking a little standing talk, etc. Opportunities have gradually increased.
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: In addition to social gatherings, various events organized by LINK-J have created exchanges with other residents and outsiders. The other day, we exhibited at the "Meet UP Booth" at a public symposium on the latest state of drug discovery technology (Frontier 2023).
Do you have any new challenges you would like to challenge at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1?
Mr. Hiroshi Kato, Mr. Recently, there has been an increasing number of opportunities for media coverage, especially on the Forness Business. Therefore, in the future, with the aim of further raising awareness of our company, we are considering enhancing and expanding public relations activities starting from Shinkiba Lab, with a view to accepting applicants for lab tours. I would like to make an appeal video of the lab that introduces our measurement technology. In addition, we would like to work on "open innovation" in which residents of Mitsui Link Lab deepen their collaboration and utilize mutual technologies to create new value.
Thank you very much. Finally, please tell us about your future prospects.
Mr. Hiroshi Kato, Mr. If the number of service users increases as our awareness increases, it is expected that Shinkiba Lab alone will not be able to respond. In addition, we believe that it will be necessary to establish a backup system in preparation for emergencies such as disasters. In the future, we plan to open labs in other regions to respond to the increase in the number of inspections associated with business expansion and tobe prepared for disaster. To this end, we would like to operate Shinkiba Lab with the aim of becoming a model case for the new establishment of our lab in the future.
Mr. Hirai, Fornes Life: In the future, SomaScan®, the core of our business, we plan to expand the types of proteins that can be measured at one time through further technological development (currently about 7,000 types). In addition, the Forness Business will expand the number of diseases that can predict the future risk of developing diseases by users to around 50. By providing these technologies in combination with services that help prevent disease and prevent disease, we would like to realize our vision "a future where no one gets sick and a society where everyone can live their own way."
