TOKYO Biotech Day 2026 by TIB CATAPULT/LINK-BioBAY TOKYO

Johannes Fruehauf (CEO, Biolabs)

Coming Soon

Tom Wu (Head of AbbVie Ventures Asia Pacific)

Tom Wu is Head of AbbVie Ventures Asia Pacific, where he leads venture investment activities and ecosystem engagement across the region. He works closely with biotech entrepreneurs, investors, academic institutions, and scientific innovators to identify and support emerging companies and technologies with the potential to transform patient care.

Tom brings over 19 years of experience across the biopharmaceutical and healthcare industry, spanning R&D leadership, external innovation, business development, strategy, and portfolio management in Asia, the U.S., and Europe. Prior to joining AbbVie Ventures, he served as Head of Development Strategy & Operations at AbbVie China and held leadership roles at Johnson & Johnson and other multinational healthcare companies.

With a background in molecular biology from Tsinghua University, complemented by an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Tom combines scientific insight with investment and business perspectives to evaluate emerging technologies and build strategic partnerships. He is particularly passionate about connecting scientific innovation, entrepreneurship, and capital to advance breakthrough healthcare solutions and strengthen the biotech ecosystem across Asia Pacific. 

Shu Konakahara (Producer, LINK-J / Associate Planner, Life Science Innovation Department, Mitsui Fudosan)

Shu Konakahara, Ph.D., is a Producer at LINK-J and an Associate Planner in the Life Science Innovation Department at Mitsui Fudosan, where he is involved in startup support, acceleration programs, academia-industry collaboration, and investment-related initiatives across the life sciences sector.

He brings more than 17 years of experience spanning academia, biotechnology startups, and the pharmaceutical industry, with expertise across basic research, drug discovery, clinical development, business development, venture capital, and startup support.

Shu began his career as an Assistant Professor at Tokyo University of Science, conducting research and teaching in antibody therapeutics and regenerative medicine. He subsequently joined Chiome Bioscience, where he worked on antibody drug discovery, collaborative research, contract research services, and research team management.

At AbbVie, he held roles spanning Medical Affairs, early clinical development, and precision medicine before taking on responsibilities for clinical development strategy for Japan and China as part of business development due diligence. He also served concurrently as a Scientist in Residence at AbbVie Ventures, AbbVie’s corporate venture capital arm, where he focused on identifying and evaluating emerging science and technologies and building relationships with academic institutions, biotech companies, and venture capital firms in Japan.

Drawing on his experience across multiple parts of the life sciences ecosystem, Shu works at the intersection of science, business, investment, and entrepreneurship. He is particularly interested in connecting different perspectives and strengthening links between Japan and the global biotech ecosystem, and has served as a speaker, panelist, and moderator at life sciences events. 

[Company Overview]
Arrowsmith Inc. is a biotech startup developing phage therapies to combat antimicrobial-resistant, difficult-to-treat bacteria. Our unique phage engineering platform enables the creation of “designer phages” with enhanced efficacy and reduced undesirable properties. 
Our lead program ARW001, a phage cocktail including an engineered phage to enhance efficacy, targets Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections with an IND filing planned for 2026. 
We are also advancing our next pipeline ARW002 for tuberculosis.
Arrowsmith Inc. is committed to realizing a future free from the threat of antimicrobial resistance through development of phage therapy.

[Expectations and Aspirations for this program]
Through this program, we aim to expand Arrowsmith’s global network and strengthen our strategic foundation needed for our next phase of growth. 
Specifically, we hope to (i) broaden our engagement with international investors, (ii) refine our regulatory and clinical development strategy, and (iii) gain insights into innovative, scalable, and sustainable business models for infectious disease therapeutics. 
We believe this program will help us build the foundation to drive global development of our pipeline. 

[Company Overview]
CellFold, Inc. is a Japan-based regenerative medicine startup developing Injectable Cell Scaffold (ICS), a bioabsorbable cell scaffold designed to enhance the retention and therapeutic effects of transplanted cells. 
By combining ICS with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells, CellFold aims to establish an affordable and effective angiogenic cell therapy for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), while expanding the platform to other ischemic and regenerative medicine applications.

[Expectations and Aspirations for this program]
Through the Masterclass Program by BioLabs, CellFold aims to refine its business development, regulatory, fundraising, and U.S. market-entry strategies for advancing ICS toward clinical and commercial implementation.
We look forward to gaining practical insights from experienced mentors, connecting with global life science investors and strategic partners, and accelerating our mission to deliver accessible regenerative medicine to patients worldwide.

[Company Overview]
FerroptoCure is developing the world’s first anticancer drug based on a novel mechanism that harnesses “ferroptosis”—cell death induced by oxidative stress—to disrupt the antioxidant systems that underpin cancer cell survival and the development of drug resistance. 
Through the early realization of this novel drug, which will bring about a major transformation in cancer treatment, we aim to “make cancer a curable disease.”

[Expectations and Aspirations for this program]
As a Japanese oncology drug discovery startup leveraging a ferroptosis-inducing mechanism, we are fully committed to this program. 
Our top priority is to deepen our practical knowledge of strategies for entering the U.S. market and international fundraising, and we will make full use of the network of BioLabs mentors and participating companies. 
We will build strategic partnerships to accelerate clinical development and grow into a company that transforms global cancer treatment through the innovative mechanism of ferroptosis.

[Company Overview]
Veneno Technologies is an AIST spin-out developing the Veneno Suite™, a proprietary platform focused on disulfide-rich peptides (DRPs). DRPs offer high stability, specificity, and the potential for low immunogenicity, enabling access to targets beyond the reach of small molecules and antibodies. 
Our platform supports diverse applications, including radioligand targeting, small-molecule-like tissue penetration, glycoengineering for pharmacokinetics, and BBB penetration. 
By unlocking previously inaccessible targets, we aim to create step-change value and establish DRPs as a next-generation therapeutic modality.

[Expectations and Aspirations for this program]
Through this program, we aim to accelerate our entry into the global biotech ecosystem, particularly in the U.S. We seek to expand partnerships with pharma, biotech, and investors to advance the international deployment of our DRP platform. 
By gaining practical insights into business development, fundraising, and regulatory strategy, we will refine our post-Series A growth plan. We also aim to build strategic relationships leading to collaborations and licensing opportunities, ultimately maximizing enterprise value and establishing a strong global presence.