Kitazato
Kitazato Corporation is a Japanese medical-device company that manufactures and distributes consumables, instruments, and media for the full IVF lifecycle. Founded in 1998 and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (368A), it serves 3,000+ fertility clinics in 80+ countries via its proprietary Cryotop® vitrification method and a 550+ SKU portfolio.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersFuji, Japan
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kitazato does
Kitazato Corporation is a Japanese medical-device company founded in 1998 and headquartered in Fuji, Shizuoka, that develops, manufactures, and distributes consumables and instruments for assisted reproductive technology (ART). Its core technology is vitrification — most notably the proprietary Cryotop® Method (launched 2000), an open-system, minimum-volume device for oocyte and embryo cryopreservation that became the field standard. The portfolio spans the full IVF lifecycle across six categories: vitrification devices and media (Cryotop®, Ultra-Fast Vitri, HPC-based vitrification/thawing media), micromanipulation tools (ICSI injection, holding, biopsy, and PZD pipettes), culture media and oils (Hypure® Oils with endotoxin levels below 0.1 EU/ml, Gamete Buffer, Fertilization Medium, Flushing Buffer, sequential and single-step culture media), andrology media (SepaSperm®, PVP, Sperm Freeze), oocyte retrieval needles (single- and double-lumen, 16G–21G), and catheters (EC-PRO Straight ET, Precurved ET, RYDEN™ echogenic ET, IUI, and the Towako® Method for transmyometrial transfer). The product set exceeds 550 SKUs.
Revenue is generated primarily through direct sales of medical devices and consumables to IVF clinics, fertility centers, and andrology laboratories, supplemented by licensing/royalty components for the Cryotop® Method. No public pricing is disclosed; transactions are routed through authorized distributors. Kitazato serves more than 3,000 clinics across 80+ countries via a hybrid go-to-market combining channel partners (Biomedical Supply/Dibimed in EMEA, Kitazato Dibimed USA and UK in North America/UK, plus regional distributors in APAC, LATAM, Africa, and MENA) and enterprise field sales with product specialists who deliver hands-on workshops and training. The company holds MDR CE (notified body 2797) and FDA clearances on key products, and trades on the Tokyo Stock Exchange under ticker 368A.
Kitazato firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kitazato
- Legal name
- Kitazato Corporation
- Website
- https://kitazato-ivf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Kitazato Corporation is a Japanese medical-device company that manufactures and distributes consumables, instruments, and media for the full IVF lifecycle. Founded in 1998 and publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (368A), it serves 3,000+ fertility clinics in 80+ countries via its proprietary Cryotop® vitrification method and a 550+ SKU portfolio.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kitazato industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Assisted Reproductive Technology (IVF) Medical Devices
- NAICS
- Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)
- SIC
- Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats) (HLAGAIAJ)
Keywords
Where Kitazato is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fuji
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Kitazato business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Medical Device Sales - IVF Products: Kitazato generates revenue through the sale of medical devices and consumables for assisted reproductive technology procedures. Products include vitrification media, oocyte retrieval needles, embryo transfer catheters, micro tools (ICSI pipettes, holding pipettes, biopsy pipettes), culture media, and oils. The company offers over 550 product references covering the entire IVF lifecycle.
- Vitrification Method Licensing: The Cryotop® Method, Kitazato's proprietary vitrification approach, is distributed globally and may include licensing components for the methodology and associated protocols used by fertility clinics worldwide.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Kitazato product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kitazato researches, develops, and manufactures medical devices and consumables for assisted reproductive technology (ART), including vitrification systems, IVF culture media, micromanipulation pipettes, oocyte retrieval needles, and embryo transfer catheters. The company's flagship Cryotop® Method, launched in 2000, popularized oocyte and embryo vitrification globally, and the portfolio of 550+ product references covers the entire IVF lifecycle from oocyte retrieval through embryo transfer. Products are sold to fertility clinics, IVF centers, and andrology laboratories in over 80 countries through authorized distributors and direct sales representatives.
Product overview
Kitazato is a Japanese medical device corporation that offers a comprehensive portfolio of over 550 products covering the entire IVF lifecycle. The product suite is organized into six main categories: Vitrification (Cryotop® Method, Vitrification/Thawing Media, Ultra-Fast Media, Ovarian Tissue devices), Micro Tools (ICSI Injection, Holding, Biopsy, and PZD Pipettes), Media and Oils (Hypure® Oils, IVF Media including Gamete Buffer, Hyaluronidase, Fertilization Medium, Flushing Buffer, Culture Media, Andrology Media including SepaSperm®, PVP, Sperm Freeze), Needles (Single and Double Lumen Oocyte Retrieval Needles, Special Procedure Needles), and Catheters (Embryo Transfer catheters including EC-PRO Straight, Precurved, and RYDEN ET; IUI Catheters; Towako® Method). The flagship Cryotop® Method revolutionized vitrification in assisted reproduction, and the portfolio supports every step from oocyte retrieval through embryo transfer, with products co-developed with major Japanese clinics and manufactured to strict quality standards with MDR CE and FDA compliance.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cryotop® Open Vitrification System Minimum-volume open vitrification device for oocyte and embryo cryopreservation. Achieves the highest survival rates through direct contact with liquid nitrogen during vitrification and storage. Used by fertility clinics and IVF centers worldwide.
- Vitrification and Thawing Media Cryopreservation media containing DMSO and EG as permeable cryoprotectants and trehalose as non-permeable cryoprotectant, designed for use with the Cryotop® Method. Uses HPC instead of HSA to eliminate pathogen transmission risk. For fertility clinics performing vitrification and warming.
- Ultra-Fast Vitri MDR CE-marked ultra-fast vitrification medium enabling a 2-minute protocol with only 2 steps (1 minute in ES and 1 minute in VS). Minimizes osmotic and chemical stress on oocytes while maximizing lab efficiency. For IVF labs seeking high-throughput vitrification workflows.
- Cryotissue® Ovarian Tissue Vitrification System
Quantifiable outcome
- Endotoxin levels kept below 0.1 EU/ml - the lowest among all commercially available culture oils
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Kitazato
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kitazato technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Kitazato partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Biomedical Supply S.L. (Dibimed)coreBiomedical Supply S.L., operating as Dibimed, serves as the Official Representative of Kitazato for website management, data processing, and European market distribution. Located in Valencia, Spain, Dibimed manages Kitazato's digital presence, customer communications, and EMEA distribution network including EU, UK, and other European markets.
- Kitazato Dibimed USAcoreDedicated US distribution operation providing Kitazato products to American fertility clinics. Handles US-specific regulatory requirements (FDA approvals) and provides localized sales and support services.
- Kitazato Dibimed UKcoreUK-specific distribution entity for Kitazato products, providing sales support and distribution services for the British market.
- Global Distributor Network (80+ countries)coreKitazato maintains authorized distributors in over 80 countries including E.g., EISENBERG BROS. LTD (Israel), Vitagen (Argentina), Gytech (Australia), Fertitech Canada, Shivani Scientific (India), PT. Sonna Medika Jaya (Indonesia), IDS Medical Systems (Singapore), and many others covering major fertility markets worldwide.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Kitazato competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CooperSurgical: Part of CooperCompanies, one of the largest global suppliers of IVF and reproductive health products (including Wallace catheters and ORIGIO media). Directly competes with Kitazato across needles, catheters, and culture media in the same fertility clinic channel.
- FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific: FUJIFILM-owned manufacturer of cell culture media and ART products including vitrification media and IVF microtools. Directly comparable to Kitazato as a Japanese/Asia-based competitor offering overlapping product categories to IVF clinics.
- Genea Biomedx: Australian-based ART equipment and consumables company with products spanning culture media, microtools, and lab devices. A direct peer with comparable product mix targeting IVF labs, though smaller in scale than Kitazato.
- Gynemed: German manufacturer specializing in ART culture media and microtools. Comparable product portfolio to Kitazato in IVF media and pipettes, with overlapping distribution in European fertility clinics.
- Vitrolife: Swedish-listed global leader in IVF media, consumables, and time-lapse systems (EmbryoScope). Directly competes with Kitazato across culture media and vitrification, serving the same fertility clinic customer base worldwide.
- Vitromed: Germany-based manufacturer of IVF media, micropipettes, and consumables. Directly comparable to Kitazato's media and microtools portfolio, serving European fertility clinics with overlapping ART consumables.
Broad incumbents
- Merck KGaA (Life Science / Fertility): German multinational with significant life science tools and fertility/ART offerings (including Genea Biomedx investment and Gonal-f). Competes with Kitazato in the broader ART ecosystem through culture media, devices, and pharmaceuticals.
- Cook Medical: US-based diversified medical device manufacturer with a reproductive health division offering needles and ART procedure devices. Wider portfolio than Kitazato, but directly comparable on oocyte retrieval needles and catheters for IVF procedures.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kitazato social profiles
Digital presenceKitazato compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Kitazato financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kitazato leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Kitazato funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kitazato M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kitazato
What does Kitazato do?
Kitazato researches, develops, and manufactures medical devices and consumables for assisted reproductive technology (ART), including vitrification systems, IVF culture media, micromanipulation pipettes, oocyte retrieval needles, and embryo transfer catheters. The company's flagship Cryotop® Method, launched in 2000, popularized oocyte and embryo vitrification globally, and the portfolio of 550+ product references covers the entire IVF lifecycle from oocyte retrieval through embryo transfer. Products are sold to fertility clinics, IVF centers, and andrology laboratories in over 80 countries through authorized distributors and direct sales representatives.
Is Kitazato a public or private company?
Kitazato is a private company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Kitazato founded?
Kitazato was founded in 1998. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Kitazato based?
Kitazato is headquartered in Fuji, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Kitazato make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Medical Device Sales - IVF Products are the primary driver. The others are vitrification Method Licensing.
Who are Kitazato's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CooperSurgical, FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific, Genea Biomedx, Gynemed, Vitrolife and Vitromed. Broad incumbents are Merck KGaA (Life Science / Fertility) and Cook Medical.
Does Kitazato have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kitazato.
What industry is Kitazato in?
Kitazato's product category is Assisted Reproductive Technology (IVF) Medical Devices. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAJ, Sample Preparation, Storage & Cryogenics (Freezers, Cryovials, Cryostats). Its NAICS code is 339113 and its SIC code is 3841.