SNBL USA
SNBL Co., Ltd. is Japan's first and largest non-clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), founded in 1957, providing preclinical safety, efficacy, and drug metabolism studies to pharmaceutical clients globally from facilities in Japan, the USA, China, and Cambodia.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SNBL USA does
SNBL Co., Ltd. (株式会社新日本科学) is Japan's first Contract Research Organization (CRO), founded in 1957 in Kagoshima. The company's core business provides preclinical safety and efficacy testing, drug metabolism analysis, and GLP-compliant studies to domestic and international pharmaceutical companies. SNBL operates a global network across Japan, the United States (SNBL U.S.A., Ltd. in Seattle; SNBL-Gemseki in Redwood City), China (SNBL CHINA), and Cambodia (SNBL CAMBODIA), and holds full AAALAC International accreditation for laboratory animal care.
The company's technology platform centers on AAALAC-accredited preclinical infrastructure and proprietary translational research assets, including a nasal drug delivery platform and a Nose-to-Brain drug delivery system developed through the Translational Research (TR) business segment. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Satsuma Pharmaceuticals develops intranasal migraine therapeutics (Atzumi/STS101, dihydroergotamine nasal powder) for the U.S. market. Beyond CRO and TR, SNBL operates the Medipolis business segment — encompassing the Medipolis International Proton Therapy Center, geothermal power generation, and a hotel — and a world-first closed-loop circulation system for artificial Japanese eel seedling production.
SNBL generates revenue primarily through negotiated professional services contracts with pharmaceutical enterprises (confirmed named customer: Astellas Pharma, contract effective April 2019), supplemented by translational research licensing/royalty arrangements and managed-services revenue from Medipolis operations. Headcount is in the 1,001–5,000 range, including specialist physicians, veterinarians, pharmacists, and clinical laboratory technicians. The FY2026 intake of 154 new hires is the largest in company history, and overseas sales are projected to exceed 50% of total revenue, signaling internationalization of the customer base.
SNBL USA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SNBL USA
- Legal name
- 株式会社新日本科学 (SNBL Co., Ltd.)
- Website
- https://snbl.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- SNBL Co., Ltd. is Japan's first and largest non-clinical Contract Research Organization (CRO), founded in 1957, providing preclinical safety, efficacy, and drug metabolism studies to pharmaceutical clients globally from facilities in Japan, the USA, China, and Cambodia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SNBL USA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
SNBL USA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- CRO Services Revenue: SNBL generates revenue through contract research services for pharmaceutical companies, providing preclinical trial services including safety and efficacy testing, drug metabolism analysis, and related research services. The company serves clients in Japan, East Asia, Europe, and the United States.
- Translational Research: Revenue from developing proprietary drug discovery platform technologies and conducting translational research bridging basic research to clinical studies.
- Medipolis Business: Revenue from proton therapy cancer treatment services, geothermal power generation, aquaculture, and hotel businesses.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
SNBL USA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SNBL USA, as part of the SNBL Group, provides non-clinical (preclinical) contract research services for pharmaceutical companies, including safety and efficacy testing, drug metabolism analysis, and GLP-compliant studies. Its parent group also operates Translational Research drug discovery platforms (including nasal drug delivery technology), Medipolis-based proton therapy and social benefit services, and eel aquaculture research.
Product overview
SNBL operates as a comprehensive Contract Research Organization (CRO) with four core business segments: CRO (preclinical trial contracting), Translational Research (drug discovery platform technologies including nasal delivery systems), Medipolis (proton therapy and social benefit services), and other businesses including eel aquaculture research. Key subsidiaries include Satsuma Pharmaceuticals developing nasal migraine treatments (Atzumi/STS101) and facilities in the U.S., China, and Cambodia. The company also operates internal training (SNBL Academy) and childcare services (SNBL Daycare Center Kirakira).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Medipolis: Medical and social benefit business including proton therapy center, geothermal power generation, aquaculture, and hotel operations
- SNBL Academy
- SNBL Daycare Center ☆Kirakira☆
- 永田大学校 (Nagata University)
- 永田塾 (Nagata Juku)
- XUP Activities
- 新日本科学の名匠制度 (SNBL Master Craftsman)
Products and services
- CRO (Contract Research Organization) Business
- Translational Research (TR) Business
Quantifiable outcome
- Largest non-clinical trial contracting scale in Japan
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use SNBL USA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
SNBL USA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SNBL USA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SNBL USA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Charles River Laboratories: Global leader in preclinical CRO services including safety assessment, research models, and discovery services. Directly comparable to SNBL's core non-clinical trial contracting business, but operates at materially larger scale with broader geographic and service coverage.
- Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): One of the world's largest CROs offering preclinical through clinical development services. Comparable to SNBL across the non-clinical CRO value chain, with substantially deeper US/EU commercial reach and integrated discovery-to-commercial offerings.
- Eurofins Scientific: Global testing and contract research services group with significant pharma preclinical and central laboratory offerings. Overlaps with SNBL in non-clinical safety testing and laboratory services, though Eurofins is far broader across food, environment, and clinical diagnostics.
- IQVIA: Largest global CRO with extensive preclinical through clinical and real-world evidence services. Indirect comparability to SNBL's preclinical CRO, but represents the integrated one-stop-shop competitor trend that pressures mid-tier Japanese CROs.
Direct peers
- WuXi AppTec: China-headquartered global CRO/CDMO providing preclinical safety assessment, drug metabolism, and translational research services. Closely comparable to SNBL's CRO and translational research offerings, with strong Asia presence and growing US footprint.
- Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories (itself): Reference note: SNBL USA is the US subsidiary of SNBL Co., Ltd. (Japan); the Japan-listed parent (ticker 2395) is the primary public-market peer for the consolidated group.
- Inotiv: US-based preclinical CRO and research models provider offering safety assessment, toxicology, and contract research services. Comparable in service mix to SNBL's non-clinical CRO, with strong North American presence.
- Pharmaron: China-founded CRO/CDMO offering drug discovery, preclinical safety, DMPK, and translational research services. Comparable to SNBL across preclinical CRO and translational research, with strong China-based capacity serving global pharma.
Regional players
- ICLAS (Institute of Cancer and Life Sciences) / Ina Research: Japanese non-clinical CRO providing preclinical safety testing and contract research services. Direct Japanese market peer to SNBL's domestic CRO business, with overlapping GLP-compliant safety study offerings.
- Sekisui Medical (formerly Daiichi Pure Chemicals) / contract diagnostics: Japan-based life sciences services provider adjacent to preclinical and clinical research. Less direct overlap than Tier 1 CROs, but competes for adjacent pharma services wallet share in Japan.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SNBL USA social profiles
Digital presenceSNBL USA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
SNBL USA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SNBL USA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SNBL USA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
SNBL USA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SNBL USA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SNBL USA
What does SNBL USA do?
SNBL USA, as part of the SNBL Group, provides non-clinical (preclinical) contract research services for pharmaceutical companies, including safety and efficacy testing, drug metabolism analysis, and GLP-compliant studies. Its parent group also operates Translational Research drug discovery platforms (including nasal drug delivery technology), Medipolis-based proton therapy and social benefit services, and eel aquaculture research.
Is SNBL USA a public or private company?
SNBL USA is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was SNBL USA founded?
SNBL USA was founded in 1957. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is SNBL USA based?
SNBL USA is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does SNBL USA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. CRO Services Revenue is the primary driver. The others are translational Research and medipolis Business.
Who are SNBL USA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Charles River Laboratories, Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance), Eurofins Scientific and IQVIA. Direct peers are WuXi AppTec, Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories (itself), Inotiv and Pharmaron. Regional players are ICLAS (Institute of Cancer and Life Sciences) / Ina Research and Sekisui Medical (formerly Daiichi Pure Chemicals) / contract diagnostics.
Does SNBL USA have an API?
No public API is recorded for SNBL USA.