Alivas

What Alivas does

Alivas Inc. (株式会社Alivas) is a Tokyo-based, privately held medical device company founded in 2017, originating from the Japan Biodesign program — a joint Stanford–University of Tokyo fellowship for medtech innovators. The company is developing a novel, low-invasive, one-time treatment medical device aimed at patients with refractory chronic constipation, an addressable population exceeding 10 million sufferers in Japan and corresponding to a global prevalence of roughly 14%. The device is positioned for the medication-refractory subset of patients for whom colectomy is currently the only remaining treatment option, representing a specialty surgical-intervention target segment rather than a primary-care pharmacotherapy market.

The company secured Medical Device Manufacturer Registration in Tokyo in December 2022 (registration #13BZ201708) and has raised approximately ¥350 million in Series B financing (April 2023) alongside earlier rounds in 2020, with MedVenture Partners, DBJ Capital, Gemseki, and Global Brain as named investors. It was selected in April 2023 to the MedTech Innovator US accelerator program, placing it in the top 20% of more than 1,100 applicants. The company remains pre-commercial and pre-revenue with a 1–10 employee footprint; its go-to-market will rely on hospital and specialist adoption once regulatory clearance for clinical use is obtained.

Business model mechanics are not yet visible given the pre-commercial stage. Pricing model, reimbursement pathway, distribution channel structure, and sales organization have not been disclosed; revenue generation is contingent on obtaining device clearance/approval and establishing hospital procurement or specialty surgical channel relationships. Customer segments, by design, will be concentrated among gastroenterology and colorectal surgery hospital departments serving a clearly defined refractory chronic constipation patient subset.

Name

Alivas

Legal name

株式会社Alivas

Website

https://alivas.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Alivas Inc. is a Tokyo-based medical device company founded in 2017 from the Japan Biodesign program, developing a novel low-invasive, one-time treatment device for refractory chronic constipation patients for whom medication has failed and colectomy is the remaining option.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gastroenterology Medical Devices

NAICS

Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (42421), Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (32562), Toilet Preparation Manufacturing (325620)

SIC

In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAKAEAA

General Gastroenterology

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Specialist Medical Practice/Gastroenterology & Hepatology

SECONDARYHLAIAAAI

Gastroenterology & Hepatology Pharmaceuticals

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Branded (Innovator) Pharmaceuticals

SECONDARYHLAIADAD

Gastrointestinal & Digestive Health

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Pharmaceuticals/Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medicines

Keywords

• Medical device development
• Gastroenterology treatment
• Refractory constipation therapy
• Minimally invasive devices
• Therapeutic medical devices

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Revenue from sale of novel medical devices for refractory constipation treatment to healthcare providers and hospitals. As a pre-commercial medical device startup in development phase, commercial revenue model details are not yet publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Alivas is developing a novel low-invasive, one-time treatment medical device for refractory chronic constipation. The device targets medication-refractory patients who do not respond to existing pharmaceutical therapies and for whom the only remaining option is highly invasive surgical colectomy, which carries lifelong side effects. The company is currently in pre-commercial development.

Product overview

Alivas is developing a single core product: a novel low-invasive one-time treatment medical device for refractory chronic constipation. This is a unified product offering targeting patients for whom medication has proven ineffective.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Novel Low-Invasive Treatment for Refractory Constipation

Quantifiable outcome

• Addresses market of 10 million+ constipation sufferers in Japan with limited treatment options
• +1 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• MedTech InnovatorminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2023Accepted into the MedTech Innovator US program, the largest medical device acceleration program in the United States. Selected in top 20% from 1,100+ applicants and participated in Virtual Pitch session.
• Stanford University / Tokyo University (Japan Biodesign)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlivas originated from the Japan Biodesign program, a collaborative innovation initiative between Stanford University and University of Tokyo. This program fosters innovative medical device development through cross-institutional collaboration.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Medtronic: Medtronic is the largest diversified medical device company globally, with relevant GI and GI-pain franchises. It exemplifies the strategic-acquirer profile for an emerging therapeutic GI device like Alivas and sets the benchmark for what commercial scale looks like in the space.
• Boston Scientific: Boston Scientific is a diversified medical device major with GI/endoscopy products. Comparable as a broad incumbent with the global commercial footprint and balance sheet that Alivas would eventually need to reach at-scale gastroenterology adoption.
• Cook Medical: Cook Medical is a long-established manufacturer of GI and interventional medical devices with deep relationships in gastroenterology. As a broad incumbent in the GI device category, it represents a potential strategic acquirer or commercialization partner for Alivas.
• Olympus Corporation: Olympus is a global leader in GI endoscopy and therapeutic devices. Its established gastroenterology franchise, sales infrastructure, and R&D scale make it a comparable incumbent that Alivas would either partner with or compete against for gastroenterology specialist mindshare.
• Hoya Corporation (Pentax Medical): Hoya, through its Pentax Medical division, is a leading endoscopy and GI therapeutic device company, especially strong in Japan and Asia. As a Japan-based broad incumbent, it is a natural strategic comparable and potential acquirer for Alivas in its home market.

Direct peers

• Vibrant Gastro: Vibrant Gastro develops a vibratory capsule for chronic constipation, the most direct competitor to Alivas in the emerging constipation-treatment device category. Both companies target medication-refractory patients with a non-pharmaceutical, device-based intervention.

Others

• AbbVie (Ironwood Pharmaceuticals / LINZESS): AbbVie, through its collaboration with Ironwood on LINZESS (linaclotide), is the leading pharmaceutical franchise for chronic constipation including refractory cases. It is a thematic/pharmaceutical competitor whose prescribing patterns and clinical data Alivas must compete against.
• Takeda Pharmaceutical: Takeda markets AMITIZA (lubiprostone) for chronic constipation and is the dominant Japanese pharmaceutical incumbent in this therapy area. It represents the established pharmaceutical incumbent whose physician relationships and reimbursement footprint any new device entrant must overcome.

Regional players

• Coloplast: Coloplast is a Denmark-based leader in intimate surgical care and bowel management devices. Although geographically concentrated outside Japan, its bowel/intestinal device portfolio makes it a relevant international comparable for a constipation-focused therapeutic device.
• JMS Co., Ltd. JMS is a Japanese medical device manufacturer with a broad portfolio including infusion, dialysis, and surgical devices. As a domestic Japanese med-device peer of similar heritage, it provides a regional benchmark for go-to-market and partnership patterns in Japan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Alivas