Top 50 Artificial intelligence VC (Venture Capital) Funds in Japan in May 2026

Portfolio highlights

• Morus — Morus is a university-based biotech startup developing functional food ingredients from silkworms to address global health and nutrition challenges.
• FunPep — FunPep is an Industry-university collaboration bioventure company.
• AI Silk — AI Silk are innovative conductive fibers produced with a dyeing technique. By using natural silk and giving conductivity to the fiber itself, They have succeeded in producing electrodes that reduce some of the risks and challenges of conventional medical electrodes, which can cause discomfort,skin and in vivo inflammation, and measurement failuredue to sweat or other elements. Their brand, AI Silk, is a new material that has strong and diverse application potential, even beyond the health / medical field.

Portfolio highlights

• Superworm — Superworm is a producer of environmentally friendly and long-term solutions to societal challenges. The company undertakes genome editing research and sells protein powders, biofuels, and organic fertilizers made from superworms, allowing customers to consume insect-derived proteins and biofuels.
• Japan Agriculture — Exportation of Japanese agricultural products is currently small in volume. While Japanese farmers aspire to export their products to foreign countries for more people to enjoy and local consumers universally share the positive perception of the quality of Japanese agricultural products, issues such as price, communication, and logistics hinder theexpansion of exportation.They aim to solve these issues and satisfy the needs of both Japanese farmers and global consumers which are so clearly evident but devastatingly unmet.
• Bluefield Energy — Bluefield Energy redefines Japan's electricity sector through technology-driven renewable energy solutions. Its mission centers on liberating people and society from energy constraints by tackling high costs, environmental impact, and supply instability.

Portfolio highlights

• Helpfeel — Our vision is to make saving, sharing, and exploring ideas as natural as breathing. On this journey we're humbled to be helping millions around the world from solo makers to university research labs, from gamers to pro designers, and large to small teams like ours.
• Asuene — Asuene involves in clean power retail business, retail SaaS business, etc.
• Cognigy — Automate customer and employee services through Conversational AI implementation across any organization with Cognigy. Book demo or try free now!

Portfolio highlights

• Opt Fit — Opt Fit is a fitness industry that provides fitness, wellness and health-care services.
• Monochrome — Monochrome is creating a home operating system in order to power the next generation of energy-producing homes and roofs. The company is based in Chuo Ward, Tokyo.
• Bluefield Energy — Bluefield Energy redefines Japan's electricity sector through technology-driven renewable energy solutions. Its mission centers on liberating people and society from energy constraints by tackling high costs, environmental impact, and supply instability.

Portfolio highlights

• Taian — Taian, which specializes in bridal industry services and software. They also provide ''Concept Marry,'' which allows couples to design invites and seating charts that match their wedding theme, as well as display guest information on Oiwaii.
• Tacoms — CAMEL is a service that allows you to easily manage orders from multiple food delivery / takeout services on a single tablet.
• Linea Innovations — Linea Innovations is an energy production company that develops commercial fusion reactors with advanced fuel technology.

Portfolio highlights

• enpay — enpay is a SaaS platform that offers cashless collection services.
• Banzai — Leverage Banzai's event solutions to transform your bored registrants into paying customers. Learn more about Reach and Demio today.
• Siftery — Siftery is a database of sorts where companies list their software stacks. Siftery compares companies with similar stacks and looks for differences to make some recommendations.

Portfolio highlights

• QREATION — QREATION is a digital intellectual property studio specializing in producing a wide range of popular content that originates primarily from social media platforms. The company focuses on creating high-quality short-form entertainment, including short dramas, comedy sketches, and variety shows.
• Forward — Forward is a SaaS-based startup that offers recruitment agency services.
• Metagen Therapeutics — Metagen Therapeutics is a Drug discovery and medical business company which utilizes microbiome science.

Portfolio highlights

• Triorb — Triorb is a technology company that specializes in robot mobility development with the help of software and hardware solutions.
• Aerem — Make the switch to rooftop solar effortlessly with Aerem solution's innovative solar finance and technology solutions. Discover how we're making solar adoption easier than ever before and start saving on your energy costs.
• Power Wave — Power Wave seeks a carbon-neutral world using wave technology for wireless power, tackling global warming and fuel depletion.

Portfolio highlights

• Taxnap — Taxnap develops tax management software for freelancers.
• Autoro — Autoro is a customer business automation company with web auto robot. Autoro combines browser automation, application programming interface linkage, and machine learning, and Autoro automatically completes tasks. They automate office tasks for businesses, including report preparation, accounting, document preparation, and more.
• Dioseve — Dioseve is providing novel possibilities for all life.

Portfolio highlights

• Eko — Turning workplaces into places where all employees can thrive.
• Reject — Reject is an esports firm that focuses on management of its team REJECT, players, apparel business, and event management services.
• ReDelta — Redelta provides a technology‑enabled platform and advisory services for cross‑border mergers and acquisitions between Japan and Southeast Asia. The service operates an In‑Out marketplace that connects corporate buyers, business owners, and investors pursuing expansion or divestiture. Engagements include deal sourcing, preliminary screening,valuation viewpoints, and coordination with local professionals throughout the transaction process. Sector and country reports, market briefs, and knowledge articles support planning and investment theses. The platform centralizes mandates and opportunities and facilitates communication between counterparties to accelerate initial discussions. Consulting support also addresses partner introductions and market entry considerations linked to post‑transaction growth.

Portfolio highlights

• Torana — Torana provides "Toysub!" well known as educational toy subscription service in Japan market. We plan to go global and will be more bigger market share holder in East Asia. We collect month-age base toy feedback data and children's development status information. We plan best combination of toys and deliver. Customer returns and getsnew toys which fit children's growth and it is eco friendly service. We plan to build our own brand toys based on massive customer feedback and growth data and enter D2C market.
• Omnis — OMNIS
• Blackbox — Blackbox is an entertainment firm that is involved in businesses, including VTuber production, media mix, and live music events.

Portfolio highlights

• iCARE — iCARE It is the No. 1 health and labor cloud introduced in Japan, which is selected by small and medium-sized enterprises suffering from lack of manpower and large enterprises expanding their business globally .
• Zen Intelligence — SoftRoid provides a software robot that patrols and collects data for analyzing the construction site.
• Catallaxy — Catallaxy is operates Japan's easiest-to-understand manufacturing industry media and sheet metal processing media.

Portfolio highlights

• AirKamuy — AirKamuy is an aviation company that designs and manufactures fixed-wing VTOL aircraft and drones with the help of modern technology.
• Haul — Haul is a human resources company that provides recruitment consulting and marketing SaaS development services.
• Sorabito — SORABITO is an eCommerce marketplace for used construction equipment and machinery.

Portfolio highlights

• Mined — Mined is a marketplace that provides online lessons in various subjects for elementary school students. Mind develops and operation of education-related services.
• PartnerProp — PartnerProp is a PRM tool with outstanding potential and a wide variety of capabilities that resolves all partner business difficulties.
• Takumi Giken Kogyo — Takumi Giken Kogyo is a price technology developer to help parts manufacturers quickly identify acceptable product prices. Takumi Giken Kogyo assists in estimate calculation and product function through AI drawing search and repeat project determination function, enabling manufacturers with flexible customization of product functions based oncustomer requirements.

Portfolio highlights

• Cosomil — Cosomil develops early diagnostic drugs for diseases and provides research and development support to healthcare companies.
• Shippio — Shippio is a service that enables a wide range of collective international logistics arrangements and management solutions via web.The platform features full-service export and import solutions for various international transportation needs; a special dashboard designated for import and export business, shipment, cost analysis, and invoicemanagement; and documentation support.
• NaLaLys — NaLaLys is a business consulting firm that provides management, distribution, research, and consulting services.

Portfolio highlights

• Univearth — Univearth is a tech company that specializes in developing a logistics digital transformation platform to modernize the logistics industry.
• FormX — FormX is a technology company that provides cutting-edge AI software and services for automated document data extraction.
• InfiniMind — The intelligence layer for the physical world. Transform petabytes of video into structured, searchable intelligence.

Portfolio highlights

• CREO Bioscience — Cleo Bioscience is a Biotechnology company.
• Global Trust Networks — Global Trust Networks is a company that helps foreigners to live in Japan
• Fabric Tokyo — FABRIC TOKYO is a Japanese startup provides a direct-to-consumer custom-made apparel brand. (former-company name Lifestyle Design Co., Ltd.). It enables customers to save their sizes, idea fabrics, and favorite designs, allowing them to make their original clothing later.FABRIC TOKYO was founded in 2012 by Yuichiro Mori and is based in Tokyo,Japan.

Portfolio highlights

• Samansa — Samansa is a film production company that offers planning, production, and distribution of telefilms, dramas, and short series.
• Space quarters — Space Quarters is a manufacturing company that produces payload deploy and panels, and develops space assembly robotic systems.
• Bluefield Energy — Bluefield Energy redefines Japan's electricity sector through technology-driven renewable energy solutions. Its mission centers on liberating people and society from energy constraints by tackling high costs, environmental impact, and supply instability.

Portfolio highlights

• Taxnap — Taxnap develops tax management software for freelancers.
• Sumutasu — sumutasu is an online real estate marketplace that enables users to quickly buy and sell their properties.
• UnlimiTech — UnlimiTech provides an industrial workflow tool that simplifies and automates complicated spreadsheets processes that get stuck among systems.

Portfolio highlights

• VPBank — As one of the earliest-established Joint-stock Commercial banks in Vietnam, VPBank has achieved steady development throughout its history. Especially since 2010, VPBank has grown dramatically with the development and implementation of the strategic transformation program diligently with support from one of the world’s leading consulting companies.
• Pacific Energy — Our innovative energy solutions are transforming the way power is generated, delivered, and managed across the nation.
• Waypoint Leasing Services — Waypoint Leasing is a global helicopter leasing company founded in 2013 to provide financing solutions to helicopter operators worldwide. Headquartered in Limerick, Ireland, Waypoint differentiates itself with a senior management team possessing direct helicopter operating and helicopter leasing experience. Their deep operational backgroundtranslates directly to a passion for rotary-wing aviation and a commitment to building long-lasting partnerships.

Portfolio highlights

• GIG-A — Open a bank account in Japan from your mobile with GIG-A. Receive salary, manage everyday spending, or transfer money with ease.
• XDeli — XDeli is a digital application that offers food delivery and meal subsidy service for corporate employees.
• CareLink — CareLink is an app that connects people looking for one-time part-time work in nursing and welfare.

Portfolio highlights

• Anaguma — Anaguma handles business development based on the philosophy of helping people with a sustainable structure. The company's business objective is to eliminate concerns about purchases and reservations, and it delivers before-sales social networks. It also provides matching services exclusively for housekeepers' personal contracts. Thecompany also offers influencer marketing services with a focus on removing waste completely from advertising and realizing a world in which good products can be sold regardless of advertising costs.Anaguma was founded in January 2016 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.
• Ageless — Ageless is a staffing agency that provides human resources-related services primarily to middle-aged and senior citizens.
• Forest — Forest Co., Ltd. operates as an e-commerce aggregator, seeks to identify sustainable, high-quality products and brands that embrace the spirit of Japan and help them grow and enter the global market by using the power of technology.

Portfolio highlights

• ACES — ACES is providing image recognition algorithms such as object recognition and face and expression recognition
• DeepCraft — DeepCraft is an AI development company that provides a wide range of AI and data analysis services to enhance corporate competitiveness.
• Polaris.AI — Polaris.AI offers AI contract development, support and AI technology education services.

Portfolio highlights

• Redcliff — Redcliff is a drone management company that organizes aerial shows and events for private and public organizations.
• SORA Technology — SORA Technology builds and operates health care and public health infrastructure utilizing drones and their operational management systems.
• Proxima Technology — Proxima Technology is an IT company that provides artificial intelligence and deep learning solutions for the manufacturing industry.

Portfolio highlights

• Mui Lab — Mui is an aesthetically-pleasing wooden IoT device connected to a cloud service. By accessing information through natural wood, we can rethink a new type of lifestyle.
• Flosfia — FLOSFIA is a spin-off from a research of Kyoto University, specializing in film-formation by mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Making use of physical properties of gallium oxide (Ga2O3), FLOSFIA has devoted to development of low-loss power devices.
• Fermelanta — Fermelanta produces rare plant-based ingredients through microbial fermentation. It engineers a cell to build a biosynthetic pathway of target molecules with gene transfer and disruption.

Portfolio highlights

• Cloudian — Cloudian provides exabyte-scale storage for your capacity-intensive workloads: S3-compatible storage for on-prem, hybrid cloud, and multi-cloud.
• Seajacks — Cadeler is a global leader in offshore wind farm construction, maintenance, and decommissioning.
• Vehicle Energy Japan — Vehicle Energy Japan specializes in development, manufacturing and sales of automotive lithium-ion batteries.

Portfolio highlights

• G-ant — G-ant runs the MITACLE BLOCK service, transforming 2D illustrations into custom 3D block figures using voxel technology.
• MoonJapan — MoonJapan is an educational impact startup that offers a variety of programs and thorough assistance.
• Prefab — Prefab offers cutting-edge AI SaaS solutions tailored for the construction industry, enhancing efficiency, safety, and decision-making through data-driven insights.

Portfolio highlights

• Synthium — Synthium offers Cognition-as-a-Service (CaaS) for consumer robotics, using gamified web-based simulations to crowdsource human cognitive data for training robot AI models. Users engage in robotics tasks like spatial navigation via webcam and microphone inputs, generating diverse datasets for model training across robot types such as humanoids anddrones. Data captures human intuition in dynamic environments, enabling scalable AI development without physical robots.
• Alchemyst AI — Alchemyst AI is an innovative generative AI software-as-a-service (SaaS) startup that leverages cutting-edge artificial intelligence technology to deliver unique solutions tailored to various industries. Alchemyst aims to empower businesses to harness the potential of generative AI for enhanced creativity, efficiency, and decision-making.We arebuilding force multipliers within teams across various verticals - starting with Maya, our first Alchemyst for Sales Development. We would soon be horizontally scaling to other roles as well, integrating into wherever you work.Since inception, we have taken a bottom-up approach to building our platform as opposed to a top-down approach usually seen in SaaS products - keeping the client experience first.
• Cooper Pet Care — Just Russel honden- en kattenvoeding op maat. Op basis van ras, leeftijd, gezondheid en gewicht. Makkelijker voor jou, beter voor je huisdier!

Portfolio highlights

• initialpoint — initialpoint develops an authentication systems for the telecommunications industry, social infrastructure, and security solution companies.
• Galapagos — Galapagos is a manufacturing company that focuses on results.They trying to create an application that produces results in the application market where only good things are evaluated.
• Galapagos Japan — Galapagos is a manufacturing company that focuses on results.They trying to create an application that produces results in the application market where only good things are evaluated.

Portfolio highlights

• Flosfia — FLOSFIA is a spin-off from a research of Kyoto University, specializing in film-formation by mist chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Making use of physical properties of gallium oxide (Ga2O3), FLOSFIA has devoted to development of low-loss power devices.
• Ashirase — Ashirase is a developer of a walking navigation system for the visually challenged. The company assists visually impaired people in walking independently. This also allows the user to have more attention to spare for audible warnings in their environment. It includes voice input and guidance via a smartphone app. A vibration interface is attachedto their shoes.
• ORENDA WORLD — ORENDA focuses on developing high-definition 3D simulation systems that apply gamification and real-time rendering technology.

Portfolio highlights

• YOUTRUST — YOUTRUST is a startup to operate YOUTRUST a referral recruitment platform for side-job change.
• Henry — Henry develops and provides a cloud-based electronic medical record and receipt system for small and medium-sized hospitals.
• Logomix — Logomix Inc is a mammalian cellular genome architect startup. Logomix proprietary platform, Geno-Writing™, technology integrates large-scale (Mb) human genome-writing technologies and providing genetically architected versatile human cells and/or downsized cells and microbes for drug development and cell & gene therapy area.Majority ofthe cell engineering companies are currently focused on optimization of gene clusters by automatic high throughput system however, Logomix’s Geno-Writing™ provides the required tools for dealing with mammalian or complex genomes. Logomix works with partners by providing new biology-based solutions to co-create business and social values on Geno-Writing™ platform Current Focus Area includes: 1. Human Health & Therapeutics 2. Biomaterials & Chemicals 3. Agriculture & EnvironmentLogomix has 11 ongoing collaborative research partnerships. Currently Logomix is specifically looking for industry partners to address unmet needs in neurodegenerative disease areas.

Portfolio highlights

• Degas — Degas develops solutions to improve the productivity of small-scale farmers in Africa.
• pickupon — Pickupon is a company that transcribes important parts of the call
• Hakki Africa — HAKKI AFRICA provides microfinance services for SMEs.

Portfolio highlights

• iCARE — iCARE It is the No. 1 health and labor cloud introduced in Japan, which is selected by small and medium-sized enterprises suffering from lack of manpower and large enterprises expanding their business globally .
• Ichirou — Ichirou provides digital senior care support services to connect elderly people with caretakers. It offers caretaker services for different types of support, including housework, hospital care, nursing, hospital and doctor visits, and shopping assistance.
• Visual Bank — Visual Bank operates a stock photo business and provides an AI data platform. It aims to create a society in which the value of Japanese creations is maximized and optimized.

Portfolio highlights

• bythen — bythen enables the production of autonomous 3D avatar bots powered by AI.
• Pick You — Pick You offers a marketplace that facilitates seamless purchase of items directly from popular Instagram users.
• CareLink — CareLink is an app that connects people looking for one-time part-time work in nursing and welfare.

Portfolio highlights

• Trustart — Trustart engages in real estate research business and real estate big data provision. The company offers real estate big data and big data subscriptions.
• Upward — UPWARD is highly by linking CRM · schedule map / location information, is a cloud service for the visiting business of field sales easier. Field salespersons who have many customers and who are out of the office feel that it is difficult to grasp all customers to Kampek and measure the timing of visits no matter how memorable they are.
• Surv Biopharma — Surv Biopharma develops a drug discovery platform that facilitates research and development of veterinary drugs and pharmaceutical products.

Portfolio highlights

• Compass — Compass offering services in the tourism and inbound sector, including accommodation support, optional tour planning and management, kimono rentals, and tourism consulting services
• 12 Pharmacy — 12 Pharmacy is a pharmaceutical company that specializes in manufacturing and providing medicines and services for veterinary hospitals.
• FUNDiT — FUNDiT is an IT-focused M&A and business consolidation company that specializes in acquiring, managing, and scaling IT companies.

Portfolio highlights

• Fivot — Fivot is a financial company that provides venture capital, financing, credit, money lending, and prepaid payment services.
• Zen Intelligence — SoftRoid provides a software robot that patrols and collects data for analyzing the construction site.
• Mechano Cross — Mechano Cross is a mechanical company that offers mechanochemical organic synthesis technology for solution reactions.

Portfolio highlights

• Issin — Issin manufactures bath mats that can measure weight and automatically record daily weight changes on your smartphone.
• RoboTruck — RoboTruck develops autonomous driving technologies for huge trucks, as well as practical applications.
• Leading Mark — Leading Mark, a rising human resources startup in Japan. Leading Mark is branching out into mid-career and international hiring. It currently has a one-man team in China working to bring the top Japanese-speaking Chinese students to domestic companies. He also touts his startup’s focus on the average job seeker. “We want to make sure that the usersget the info that he or she needs the most,” he says. Large scale, legacy players can sometimes prioritize the needs of the hiring company, and their commission, over the needs of applicants themselves. This leads to frustration and short-circuited careers.

Portfolio highlights

• Asuene — Asuene involves in clean power retail business, retail SaaS business, etc.
• YOUTRUST — YOUTRUST is a startup to operate YOUTRUST a referral recruitment platform for side-job change.
• Testsigma — Powerful cloud-based test automation platform that lets you automate tests for web, mobile, desktop apps, and APIs in minutes. Sign up now!

Portfolio highlights

• XDeli — XDeli is a digital application that offers food delivery and meal subsidy service for corporate employees.
• Castee — Castee provides social collaboration services and also helps with a tool for job requests and overseas projects for creators.
• Batton — Batton is a product-developing company that sells AI-enabled RPA buttons and AI formats that allow papers to be automatically formatted.

Portfolio highlights

• Fivot — Fivot is a financial company that provides venture capital, financing, credit, money lending, and prepaid payment services.
• Leading Mark — Leading Mark, a rising human resources startup in Japan. Leading Mark is branching out into mid-career and international hiring. It currently has a one-man team in China working to bring the top Japanese-speaking Chinese students to domestic companies. He also touts his startup’s focus on the average job seeker. “We want to make sure that the usersget the info that he or she needs the most,” he says. Large scale, legacy players can sometimes prioritize the needs of the hiring company, and their commission, over the needs of applicants themselves. This leads to frustration and short-circuited careers.
• Tokyo Artisan Intelligence — Tokyo Artisan Intelligence develops od purely domestic AI high-speed code generation tools as part of deep learning and hardware research. Their objectives are to contribute to the development of new computational technology and its application in society, particularly by providing experts through the training of doctoral students.

Portfolio highlights

• MarqVision — Effortlessly discover and remove counterfeits to protect your sales and reputation.
• CoLab — CoLab is a technology company that provides robotics, artificial intelligence solutions, and business consulting services.
• NutmegLabs — NutmegLabs takes care of tourism and leisure by helping with online booking and digitizing the business. It was founded in 2019 and is based in San Francisco, California, United States.

Portfolio highlights

• Fivot — Fivot is a financial company that provides venture capital, financing, credit, money lending, and prepaid payment services.
• MODE — With offices in both San Mateo, California, and Tokyo, Japan. The company is rapidly growing with now over fifty employees and is in business to provide end-to-end semi-custom IoT and AI solutions for organizations to improve their operations by connecting them to their data, giving them “real-time” insights, so they can turn innovative ideas intosustainable solutions that address a wide range of challenges.Simple, yet powerful, our latest "next generation" BizStack IoT and BizStack AI solutions are comprised of a continuous improvement technology stack that collects real-time data from any sensor, device, product, equipment, or legacy system. The data is then sanitized, uniquely structured, and provided to highly customizable, intuitive dashboards with powerful insights, along with proper security in the cloud for ongoing IoT and AI applications.BizStack can be deployed 4X faster and 75% less expensively than in-house developers or outside consultants.
• OPTEMO — OPTEMO develops and supplies sales technology that allows businesses and customers to connect through a website.

Portfolio highlights

• Tryeting — TRYETING provides an AI platform that integrates various types of software. One of the strengths of the company is materials informatics, a field that applies the techniques of informatics, such as AI and big data, to materials. This approach can significantly speed the development of new materials.
• HelloWorld — EdTech, International Exchange between Schools
• Japan Culture and Technology — Japan Culture and Technology assists artists and craftspeople in expanding their activities by providing IT support.

Portfolio highlights

• MUSE — MUSE is a robotics company that provides robotic solutions for retail stores to support in-store operations.
• Turing — Turing develops and manufactures fully autonomous vehicles.
• BACKSEAT — BACKSEAT provides embedded crypto exchange and Web3 Services.

Portfolio highlights

• Nehan — Nehan is a software firm that offers AI bidding information and a media outlet that delivers to local government businesses.
• FUNDiT — FUNDiT is an IT-focused M&A and business consolidation company that specializes in acquiring, managing, and scaling IT companies.
• Ageless — Ageless is a staffing agency that provides human resources-related services primarily to middle-aged and senior citizens.

Portfolio highlights

• Alumnote — The alumni association management software developed by Alumnote allows schools to manage their alumni associations online. The focus of the company is to undertake loyalty building and marketing for potential donors such as graduates and provides digital tools, and supports the execution of donation acquisition.
• SkyDrive — SkyDrive is a start-up for development,manufacturing,sales of the “Flying cars” established by CARTIVATOR members.
• NABLA Mobility — Solving the complexities involved in the "Operation of Fleets" of Mobility and support its evolution and decarbonization

Portfolio highlights

• Opt Fit — Opt Fit is a fitness industry that provides fitness, wellness and health-care services.
• Trustart — Trustart engages in real estate research business and real estate big data provision. The company offers real estate big data and big data subscriptions.
• ARCS — ARCS specializes in developing assisted reproductive medical devices using robotics and artificial intelligence technology.

Portfolio highlights

• ACROVE — ACROVE is an EC & D2C platform company that provides brand building services such as SaaS and consulting-service.
• SoVa — SoVa operates an accounting firm that combines technology and experts.
• H2 — H2 Corporation offers an automation solution called "AI Estimation" for estimating tasks.

Portfolio highlights

• HOLO BIO — HOLO BIO is a research and technology firm that employs biological breeding techniques to address the food challenges faced by humanity.
• EX-Fusion — EX-Fusion develops the first commercial laser based nuclear fusion reactor for power generation.
• Rege Nephro — Rege Nephro is a biotech company that specialized in R&D, production and marketing of renal disease therapeutics.