CompanyMessage from the CEO

We are committed to building the best possible team by actively recruiting talented individuals in various fields who can thrive and excel on the global stage in good spirits.

At Tsubota Laboratory, we are driven by our mission to “Create a Future of Clear Vision through Visionary Innovations.” As a venture company originating from the Keio University School of Medicine, we aim to deliver groundbreaking innovations and solutions for myopia, dry eye, presbyopia (age-related farsightedness), and brain diseases.

In 2007, the School Education Act was revised to include the perspectives of “innovation” and “industry creation” as responsibilities of universities. Conventionally, the purpose of universities has been regarded as research and education, but this amendment clearly states that universities also have an obligation to be involved in the creation of new industries. In response, Keio University School of Medicine has fostered the birth of numerous startup ventures, including our own. As we help the School create 100 venture companies, we are striving to serve as a model of such an endeavor by bridging science (research) and commercialization (merchandising).

Furthermore, Japan currently faces the challenge of over-importation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices from abroad. We believe that the growth of these venture companies and their ability to earn foreign currency will contribute to resolving this issue.

Among the four key areas of focus at Tsubota Laboratory, we are initially concentrating on innovations for myopia, which is drastically increasing globally. While humans were originally far-sighted, the urbanization following the Industrial Revolution led people to spend more time indoors and caused a surge in “near vision work” in which they look at closer things. Consequently, the burden of adjusting the eye’s focus for near vision has intensified, resulting in impaired ocular blood flow and ischemia (reduced blood supply). This is the fundamental mechanism behind myopia.

While “near vision work” is a primary cause of myopia onset and progression, outdoor activities with exposure to sunlight hold the key to its suppression. We have made the world’s first discovery that violet light, a component of sunlight, stimulates the non-visual photoreceptor OPN5 expressed in retinal ganglion cells, thereby increasing ocular blood flow and preventing myopia progression. The recent global surge in myopia is attributed not only to the increase in near vision work but also to a significant reduction in modern individuals’ outdoor time and exposure to violet light.

Based on this principle, we have developed eyeglass frame medical devices that deliver violet light and are currently conducting confirmatory clinical trials. Building upon the safety confirmed in our preceding exploratory clinical trials, we will meticulously assess efficacy and provide solutions to address myopia in Japan and worldwide in the near future. Moreover, we have confirmed that OPN5, when stimulated by violet light, also increases brain blood flow, and we are advancing research towards applications in the treatment of depression and dementia.

Moving forward, we will continue to attract exceptional talent and build the best possible teams in various fields, including research, clinical development, commercialization, regulatory science, and intellectual property, thereby continuing our pursuit of a better future. Tsubota Laboratory will remain committed to fulfilling its role as a model venture and meeting your expectations. We sincerely appreciate your continued support.

Kazuo Tsubota Chief Executive Officer