Mutsuki Takano Was Appointed as CFO at Heartseed

Supporting recently approved First-in-Human clinical trial at Keio University, accelerating company-sponsored clinical trials, and building a strong foundation for further growth

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Heartseed Inc. (hereinafter Heartseed), a Tokyo-based biotechnology company developing iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte spheroids for the treatment of heart failure (HF), today announced that Mutsuki Takano has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer of Heartseed, effective September 14, 2020.

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Heartseed pipeline (Graphic: Business Wire)

Heartseed expects to initiate Phase 1/2 clinical trial for its lead pipeline HS-001 for HF in 2021. Heartseed is also supporting an investigator-initiated clinical trial for HF led by Keio University. Keio University announced the clinical trial plan was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on August 27^th, 2020.

In light of this, Heartseed has newly established the position of CFO with the aim of building a foundation for growth and further increasing corporate value by strengthening financial management and corporate governance.

Mutsuki Takano has total 16 years business experience, and joined Heartseed in August 2020. He holds a career record in bio-tech management since 2018. He successfully raised approx. Eur 50 million mainly in Promethera Biosciences, Belgium cell therapy company. Before 2018, he had been with Mitsui & Co., where he engaged in VC investment in biotech industry, new business launches, setting-up of joint ventures, and foreign company operations in multiple regions such as US, UK, Belgium, China, and other Asian countries. He is a Certified Member Analyst of SAAJ.

“Heartseed is one of the most promising global front runners with outstanding cell development technologies for treating heart failure. I am privileged to work together for the company,” said Mutsuki Takano.

About Heartseed

Heartseed Inc. was founded in 2015 to develop and commercialize cardiac regenerative medicine developed by Prof. Keiichi Fukuda and his group at the Department of Cardiology, Keio University, Tokyo. Heartseed has original technologies throughout the process of manufacturing and delivering iPSC-derived cardiac regenerative medicine, including purification, cell delivery and iPSC production, and has raised more than USD 38 million.

For more information on Heartseed, please visit http://www.heartseed.jp/en/index.html

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