Human Life CORD

What Human Life CORD does

Human Life CORD is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company founded in April 2017 by Masamitsu Harata and headquartered in Nihonbashi, Tokyo. The company develops regenerative cell therapies based on umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs), positioning itself as a first-in-class developer of UC-MSCs as a regenerative medicine product. Its core proprietary platform covers UC-MSC isolation, expansion, and quality control, originally licensed from Tokyo University of Medical Science (Prof. Tokiko Nagamura) and further developed through collaborations with Nagoya University and others. The lead asset, HLC-001, is being developed for non-infectious pulmonary complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and entered Phase III clinical trials in February 2026 following orphan regenerative medicine product designation in August 2025; Phase II data showed a 71.4% 56-day survival rate versus an estimated 24.5% with existing treatment. The company is also pursuing additional indications including sarcopenia (with a granted Japan patent in January 2026), autoimmune diseases, and newborn chronic lung disease. A new sarcopenia biomarker study was completed in Brazil in September 2025.

The company operates a virtual pharma model rather than building a direct commercial sales force. Revenue is expected to be generated through one-time licensing arrangements and royalties on HLC-001 and follow-on UC-MSC products. In Japan, Mochida Pharmaceutical holds exclusive development and commercialization rights, Rohto Pharmaceutical serves as CDMO partner, and Alfresa handles distribution. International expansion is executed through partnership-based CDMO and clinical translation arrangements: New York Blood Center Enterprises is the exclusive US CDMO (MOU October 2025), Abu Dhabi Biobank and M42 support UAE/MENA localization (May 2026 partnership), HLC-MENA Ltd. is a joint venture with Hayat Capital in Abu Dhabi Global Market (September 2025), and UFRGS supports Brazil-based sarcopenia research. Total disclosed funding to date exceeds 2.7 billion yen (~$18M) across Series A/B/C rounds, with the Series C final close in November 2025 led by Rohto Pharmaceutical. Customer segments are vertically defined by indication: rare and intractable disease patients (primary, anchored by NIPCs), elderly patients with age-related conditions (sarcopenia), and academic medical institutions collaborating on autoimmune disease research.

The headcount of 11-50 employees and the activation of a formal CxO structure in October 2025 (CEO Harata, COO Matsushita, CFO Kidachi, CTrO Nakata, CPO Yamada) reflect an organization scaling from a clinical-stage R&D team toward a pre-commercial company with multi-region supply chain responsibilities. Marketing is conducted through corporate website, Japanese business media (Nikkei, Nikkei Biotech, Nikkei Business), industry events (BioJapan, JHVS, Regenerative Medicine JAPAN), international expos (Osaka-Kansai Expo, Global Startup EXPO), equity crowdfunding via FUNDINNO PLUS+, and active engagement with government-backed startup programs (J-Startup by METI, SusHi Tech Global Startups by Tokyo Metropolitan Government). The company has not yet launched a commercial product and is therefore pre-revenue, with revenue inflection contingent on Phase III completion and regulatory approval of HLC-001 in Japan.

Name

Human Life CORD

Legal name

ヒューマンライフコード株式会社

Website

https://humanlifecord.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Human Life CORD is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company developing umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (UC-MSC) therapies, with lead asset HLC-001 in Phase III trials for non-infectious pulmonary complications after stem cell transplantation and additional programs in sarcopenia and autoimmune diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regenerative Medicine

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cell Processing & Ancillary Materials (media, cytokines, beads, vectors, disposables) (HLAAABAH), Cell & Tissue Banking (biobanking, cord blood/tissue) (HLAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Regenerative medicine products
• Cell therapy biotechnology
• Mesenchymal stromal cells
• Umbilical cord-derived cells
• Clinical-stage biopharmaceuticals

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Regenerative Medicine Product Sales: Revenue from sale of HLC-001 and future UC-MSC-based regenerative medicine products for treatment of non-infectious pulmonary complications and other indications. The company serves as the manufacturing and marketing authorization holder.
2. Partnership Milestones and Royalties: Development and sales milestones plus royalties from partners such as Mochida Pharmaceutical for HLC-001 development and commercialization rights in Japan.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Human Life CORD is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company developing regenerative cell therapy products based on umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs). Its core asset, HLC-001, is being advanced through Phase III clinical trials for non-infectious pulmonary complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, with additional UC-MSC programs targeting sarcopenia, autoimmune diseases, and newborn chronic lung disease. The company operates a virtual-pharma model, holding manufacturing and marketing authorization while partnering for commercialization and distribution.

Product overview

Human Life CORD is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company developing regenerative cell therapies based on umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (UC-MSCs). The company's core product is HLC-001, a UC-MSC product targeting non-infectious pulmonary complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, currently in Phase III clinical trials. The company is building a global ecosystem for sustainable cell therapy, with products targeting multiple indications including sarcopenia, autoimmune diseases, and newborn chronic lung disease. Their technology platform focuses on isolating, expanding, and quality-controlling UC-MSCs for therapeutic applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HLC-001 Umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stromal cell (UC-MSC) product in development for non-infectious pulmonary complications (NIPCs) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Designated as a Rare Disease Regenerative Medicine Product by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in August 2025, and currently in Phase III clinical trials with Mochida Pharmaceutical as co-development partner.
• UC-MSCs (Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells) Pipeline Products Cell therapy products derived from domestically sourced and stockpiled umbilical cords, targeting various rare and refractory diseases beyond NIPCs, including sarcopenia, autoimmune diseases, and newborn chronic lung disease. Underlying platform technology licensed from Tokyo University of Medical Science.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71.4% 56-day survival rate in Phase II trial for NIPCs (vs 24.5% historical)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Abu Dhabi Biobank (Department of Health - Abu Dhabi and M42)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 March 2026Strategic partnership to localize UC-MSC manufacturing and clinical translation in UAE and MENA region. Abu Dhabi Biobank provides large-scale biobanking infrastructure, data, and translational research capabilities, while HLC contributes proprietary MSC technology and clinical development expertise.
• New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe)coreTechnology or Integration · 28 October 2025MOU for manufacturing collaboration in the USA. NYBCe serves as exclusive CDMO for manufacturing UC-MSC products, with facilities in Rye, New York. Partnership includes technology harmonization for standardized manufacturing between Japan and USA.
• Youth Bio Global (Korea)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2025MOU for cross-border clinical trials between Korea and Japan in the pharma R&D cooperation framework established by Korea's MSS with Japanese pharmaceutical companies.
• Hayat Capital Limited (Tawasol Holding Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2025Joint venture partnership to establish HLC-MENA Ltd. in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) for manufacturing, supplying, and commercializing UC-MSC products in Middle East and North Africa region.
• Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025Clinical research collaboration for sarcopenia in Brazil. Joint biomarker discovery study with 70 subjects completed in September 2025. Research conducted with Prof. Emilio Hideyuki Moriguchi.
• Tokyo University of Science (formerly Tokyo Medical and Dental University)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Joint research course 'Lifespan Immunity Medical Implementation Course' for research on autoimmune diseases. Collaboration with Prof. Mori Masahiro for early diagnosis and optimal treatment of refractory autoimmune diseases.
• Mochida PharmaceuticalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2023Joint commercialization agreement for HLC-001 in Japan. HLC maintains manufacturing and marketing authorization holder status while Mochida handles development, sales, distribution, and post-marketing safety for specified diseases including NIPCs.
• Rohto PharmaceuticalcoreTechnology or Integration · 14 February 2022Manufacturing contract for HLC-001 products. Rohto serves as CDMO partner for cell processing and formulation using master cells provided by HLC, supporting Phase III clinical trial supply.
• Tokyo University of Medical Science (Institute of Medical Science)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2020Exclusive global license for UC-MSC technology from Professor Tokiko Nagamura. Joint research for continued technology development and IMSUT-HLC Cell Processing Facility operation.
• Alfresa Holdings / Alfresa CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2020Capital and business partnership for stable supply chain construction. Alfresa handles distribution and logistics for cell products in Japan.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• JCR Pharmaceuticals: Japanese specialty pharma with regenerative medicine capabilities (e.g., TEMCELL HS for acute GvHD) and a biologics manufacturing footprint. Comparable as a Japan-based, publicly listed cell therapy company operating in similar regulatory and reimbursement environments.
• Cynata Therapeutics: Clinical-stage developer of iPSC-derived MSC therapies for GvHD, osteoarthritis, and critical limb ischemia. Direct comparability on MSC modality, allogeneic manufacturing approach, and rare-disease focus overlapping HLC's NIPCs and autoimmune ambitions.
• Mesoblast: Commercial-stage MSC therapy developer with remestemcel-L approved for pediatric SR-aGvHD and a pipeline across inflammatory and immune diseases. Direct comparability: same core modality (allogeneic MSC-based cell therapy) and overlapping rare/immune indications including graft-versus-host complications.
• Athersys: Developer of MultiStem (multipotent adult progenitor cell) therapies, partnered with Healios in Japan for ischemic stroke and ARDS. Direct comparability on allogeneic, off-the-shelf cell therapy for inflammatory/pulmonary indications, with shared regulatory pathway challenges.
• Pluristem Therapeutics: Developer of placenta-derived, off-the-shelf cell therapy products (PLX cells) targeting muscle injury, hematopoietic recovery, and inflammatory indications. Comparable on placenta/tissue-derived MSC-like cell therapy platform and similar allogeneic manufacturing model.
• Healios KK: Japan-listed regenerative medicine company developing stem cell therapies for ARDS, ischemic stroke and acute GvHD through its MultiStem partnership. Highly comparable as a Japanese cell therapy company navigating the same PMDA regulatory pathway and orphan designation framework.

Broad incumbents

• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Global Japanese-headquartered pharma with a growing cell therapy franchise (post-TiGenix acquisition, ALLO-501 programs) and established CDMO/biologics capabilities. Comparable as the dominant Japanese incumbent with the resources and distribution to compete in regenerative medicine if it invests behind MSC or allogeneic platforms.
• Astellas Pharma: Japan-headquartered global pharma with active cell and gene therapy programs (e.g., AT132 for XLMTM, Universal Cells platform acquisition). Comparable as a large incumbent with regenerative medicine ambitions that could overlap with HLC's pipeline through internal programs or M&A.

Emerging players

• Heartseed Inc. Tokyo-based clinical-stage biotech developing iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte cell therapy for heart failure. Comparable as a Japanese, venture-stage regenerative medicine company pursuing PMDA approval with similar technology-transfer and GMP manufacturing challenges.

Others

• Rohto Pharmaceutical: Japanese pharma and HLC's contracted CDMO/manufacturing partner for HLC-001. Relevant as an ecosystem enabler—Rohto's cell processing capability materially supports HLC's manufacturing pathway and signals strategic adjacency for investor diligence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6H9MMXalc0HFKAUIzMVzwQ/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/humanlifecord
• Xx.com/humanlifecord

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors6 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Human Life CORD