CEO Interview

epitoMAP Inc. was established in 2020 with the goal of bringing a pan-Coronavirus vaccine that works for both animals and humans as well as allergy immunotherapeutics to market. By using the outcomes of the collaborative research with RIKEN and AACL—a RIKEN venture established in the year 2007—we have taken it to the next step of “Drug Discovery” with the ultimate aim of preventing coronavirus diseases and allergic diseases, provided as fundamental solution.

A breakthrough solution to end the COVID-19 pandemic that is currently terrorizing the world is needed as soon as possible. Despite the fact that the brilliant scientists all over the world are working on developing vaccines, there are still many unanswered questions about their side effects, effectiveness against mutated viruses, and the risk of antibody-dependent enhancement issues in the future.

We are confident that the “Pan-Coronavirus Vaccine” that we are researching and developing will resolve all these issues and become a revolutionary prophylactic. We have already verified its effectiveness in the cat coronavirus which causes feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats and we are working towards practical use through collaborations with veterinary pharmaceutical companies.

Additionally, in the field of allergy prophylactic (immunotherapeutics) development which has never seen much success so far, we are looking at making anti-IgE drugs that react well in both humans and animals. To that end, we will first develop it as an anti-IgE antibody drug for dogs with allergy, extrapolate the data to human medicine, and then extend its use in humans as a humanized antibody to completely cure allergy in humans.

I believe that veterinarians have a responsibility to step up and lead the fight against microscopic pathogens like viruses that threaten health and lives of both humans and animals.
The highly pathogenic coronavirus like the SARS-CoV-2 which causes COVID-19 have a zoonotic feature and mutate during transmission from humans to animals and vice versa. I believe that it is necessary to approach it from the field of veterinary medicine if we are to break that chain of infection and eradicate it from the earth.

Creating a world free from coronavirus and allergies.
We want to be the company that can indicate the “roadMAP” to realize that ideal.

We at epitoMAP Inc. are committed to contributing to the happiness of both humans and animals through our development and research of veterinary vaccines and immunotherapeutics.