Who We Are

Creating New Options for Skin and Hair Conditions Through Stem Cell Science

EADERM is a university spin-out dedicated to developing new treatments and preventive approaches based on the science of tissue stem cells in skin and hair.
We view alopecia not simply as a hair problem, but as a disorder involving changes in the function of the cells that generate and maintain hair. From this perspective, we are pursuing drug discovery based on a concept that differs fundamentally from conventional approaches.
This concept, born from many years of original research, has the potential to reshape our understanding of the pathophysiology of intractable alopecia, including alopecia areata, as well as intractable skin diseases. Rather than merely suppressing symptoms temporarily, we focus on the fundamental biological processes involved in disease onset and chronicity—an approach we believe can lead to innovative therapies.
Our tissue stem cell regulation technologies also hold potential beyond alopecia, with possible applications across a wide range of diseases driven by dysfunction in skin, hair, or other tissue stem cells.
We are committed to translating discoveries from stem cell aging and regeneration research into practical technologies and delivering new options for skin and hair health to patients and society.

President and CEO Takehiko Kaneko

Company Profile

Bringing Health and Smiles to People Around the World

Company Name	EADERM CO., LTD.
Established	November 15, 2017
Location	Campus Innovation Center INDEST, Institute of Science Tokyo, 3-3-6 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Business Description	Research and development, commercialization, and out-licensing of pharmaceuticals and related products for alopecia and other skin and age-related diseases, based on technologies for regulating tissue stem cell aging and regeneration.
History	2017: – Founded based on dermatology, stem cell biology, and aging research led by Professor Emi K Nishimura of the Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, now Professor at the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo. – EADERM was established to pioneer new approaches to hair and skin diseases and to develop pharmaceuticals and quasi-drugs addressing high unmet medical needs in dermatology. – Conducted high-throughput screening using compound and extract libraries. 2020： – Formed alliances with pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies in Japan. – Certified as a venture company originating from Tokyo Medical and Dental University. – Expanded assay platforms for evaluating drug candidates. 2021： – Following Professor Nishimura’s move to The University of Tokyo, EADERM acquired patents and licenses based on inventions by Professor Nishimura. 2022： – Launched a new management structure with Nobuhiro Ando appointed as President. – Selected as a startup supported by NCC VIP (National Cancer Center Venture Incubation Program). 2023： – Completed seed financing from ANRI Inc. 2025： – Raised a total of JPY 460 million in Series A financing from UntroD Capital Japan, Inc., ANRI Inc., Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Professor Hiromitsu Nakauchi of Stanford University. 2026： – Takehiko Kaneko was appointed President and CEO, and Megumi Joho was appointed Director of Business Development. – Entered into an exclusive evaluation and license option agreement with ROHTO Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Our Leadership

Takehiko Kaneko, M.D.

President and CEO

After graduating from Keio University School of Medicine, he began his career as a clinical physician. He subsequently worked at several global pharmaceutical companies, where he was engaged in clinical development and medical affairs, including securing regulatory approval for major new drugs.
At SanBio Co., Ltd., he helped establish the development organization and advance global clinical trials. At Heartseed Inc., he served as a Board Director and Chief Medical Officer, and contributed to a co-development with a major pharmaceutical company and to the company’s successful IPO.

Nobuhiro Ando

Founder and Board Director

After joining POLA Chemical Industries, Inc., he studied abroad at the Department of Dermatology, University of Wales in the United Kingdom. In 2002, he founded Technology Development Research Laboratory of Chanel K.K, a French-capital company, and served as its Representative Director for about 20 years.
During that time, he led the first successful development of a Category I quasi-drug by a foreign-affiliated company in Japan and gained extensive expertise in product development.

Yuko Muroyama

Director of Research and Development

She completed her doctoral program at Osaka University and holds a Ph.D. in Science.
Before joining EADERM, she served as a research fellow at Harvard University and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and later held academic positions at Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, including Assistant Professor, Project Lecturer, and Lecturer.
With a background in developmental biology and stem cell biology, she aims to develop innovative and safe therapeutics for skin and hair disorders.

Megumi Joho

Director of Business Development

She began her career at Nissan Chemical Corporation as a medicinal chemist engaged in small-molecule drug discovery research. Since 2018, she has worked in business development, covering a broad range of responsibilities including out-licensing of in-house assets, in-licensing and out-licensing of core technologies, expansion of collaborative R&D partnerships, alliance management, project management, and new business planning.
She has contributed to the out-licensing of multiple preclinical candidates to pharmaceutical companies and other partners.

Hiroshi Yokoyama

Certified Public Accountant

Mr. Yokoyama began his career at Ernst & Young ShinNihon LLC, where he was engaged in financial audits of major financial institutions and other clients. He subsequently served as CFO at four startups in the medical and healthcare fields.
He has extensive experience in startup management, overseeing fundraising and overall back-office operations, and at times also serving as a business leader.

Koji Owaku

Board Director and Head of Accounting

At POLA Chemical Industries’ Pharmaceutical Research Laboratories, he was involved in the approval and launch of Lulicon, a prescription topical antifungal drug, and Divigel, a prescription transdermal gel for the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
At POLA Pharma Inc., he was engaged in pharmaceutical development and manufacturing, and has broad expertise across research, quality assurance, administration, and related functions.

Sotaro Kurata, M.D. Ph.D.

Technical Advisor

He has held positions at Ehime University School of Medicine, the Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery at Osaka University, the Department of Plastic Surgery at Hyogo Prefectural Kobe Children’s Hospital, and Oita Medical University, where he served as a lecturer in dermatology. He also served as a visiting researcher at the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center. He later opened Beppu Garden Hill Clinic in Beppu, Oita Prefecture.
He has served as President of the Japan Society of Clinical Hair Restoration and as a Director of the Japan Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. He currently serves as a Director of the Japanese Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Auditor of the Society for Hair Science Research, Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Japan Society of Clinical Hair Restoration, and Visiting Professor at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.
He is an opinion leader in alopecia treatment in Japan.

Our Founder

Emi K. Nishimura, M.D., Ph.D.

Scientific Founder

She has held positions at the Department of Dermatology, Kyoto University; Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine; Harvard University; Kanazawa University, where she served as Professor; Tokyo Medical and Dental University, where she served as Professor; and the Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, where she currently serves as Professor.
She is the discoverer of tissue stem cells in the skin and the inventor of technologies for regulating tissue regeneration and aging through stem cell control. She received the Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in FY2021.
She is a dermatologist and was elected as a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2022.