Date: October 7, 2026

Location: Pacifico Yokohama, Japan

Event Title: BioJapan 2026

Panel Title: From Clinical Trials to Investment Returns: Toward the Rebuilding of Bioecosystem in Japan

Paradigm Health Speaker: Jonathan Hirsch, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy & Growth Officer

‍From Clinical Trials to Investment Returns: Toward the Rebuilding of Bioecosystem in Japan

Investment in Japanese biotech startups has been rising steadily, and government support policies have gradually improved fundraising through venture capital and corporate venture capital (CVC). Yet the ecosystem needed to advance funded companies into clinical trials—collaboration with medical institutions, a supportive regulatory environment, and access to specialized clinical development expertise—remains underdeveloped. As a result, promising programs frequently stall, capital fails to generate adequate returns, and the next investment cycle is undermined.

Addressing this challenge requires startups, medical institutions, and investors to work together organically, building an environment that enables clinical development to proceed smoothly.

This seminar brings together medical institutions with proven track records in early-stage clinical research, regulators driving reform, entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated clinical development, and investors and industry stakeholders from Japan and abroad. Together, we will explore how to build an ecosystem that positions Japanese startups for global clinical development—examining the structural challenges of Japan's clinical trial landscape, strategies for collaboration between medical institutions and startups, and how investors assess clinical development risk.

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