Hamamatsu Pharma Research

What Hamamatsu Pharma Research does

Hamamatsu Pharma Research is a contract research organization (CRO) based in Hamamatsu, Japan, founded in 2005, that specializes in preclinical efficacy testing of novel therapeutics in cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis) nonhuman primate (NHP) disease models. The company's core offering covers disease model development and pharmacological studies across central nervous system (stroke, Parkinson's), pain (capsaicin-induced, oxaliplatin-induced polyneuropathy, osteoarthritis), ophthalmology (dry/wet AMD, glaucoma), gastroenterology (IBD, IBS), thrombosis, and pruritis indications, leveraging the 93% genetic similarity between macaques and humans to provide physiologically relevant translational data for drug development programs. Its underlying technology platform integrates an in-house Primate Center (up to 300 macaques, 8 holding rooms, 4 procedure rooms, AAALAC-accredited since 2015) with clinical-grade in vivo imaging, including 1.5T and 3.0T MRI, X-ray CT, C-arm fluoroscopy, funduscopy, OCT, and diffusion tensor imaging, plus a proprietary fMRI-based pain evaluation methodology that quantifies stimulus-evoked brain activation (PAG and S2 regions) via z-score analysis as an objective outcome measure. The company also holds US Patent US-10532112-B2 covering its NHP model of age-related macular degeneration.

The business model is professional-services B2B: HPR sells custom preclinical study packages — protocol design, model selection, in-life execution, imaging, bioanalysis, and reporting — to large and mid-sized pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D groups through direct engagement, website inquiry, conference presence (BIO International, Korean Society Nephrology, Korean Society Nonclinical Study), and professional referrals. Pricing is project-specific and not publicly disclosed. The firm was acquired as a subsidiary of CMIC Holdings Co., Ltd. in 2023 and is undergoing an absorption-type merger into CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd. (with Hamamatsu Laboratory as the continuing brand) in 2026, with Takahiro Natsume, PhD serving as President & CEO of both entities.

HPR's competitive positioning rests on the combination of deep NHP-specific expertise, a vertically integrated housing-to-imaging workflow, and validated fMRI-based pain endpoints — capabilities that address biopharma clients' need to de-risk translational decisions before clinical trials. Constraints include small headcount (11-50 employees), NHP supply and regulatory sensitivity, and dependence on a concentrated sponsor base seeking outsourced efficacy studies.

Name

Hamamatsu Pharma Research

Legal name

CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd.

Website

https://hpharmausa.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hamamatsu Pharma Research is a Japan-based CRO specializing in preclinical efficacy testing using cynomolgus macaque disease models and integrated in vivo imaging (MRI, CT, fMRI), serving pharmaceutical and biotechnology R&D clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Preclinical CRO Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

In Vivo Pharmacology (Efficacy/PD Models) (HLAGAFAA)

Keywords

• Preclinical CRO services
• Nonhuman primate models
• Drug efficacy testing
• Translational research services
• In vivo imaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamamatsu

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Contract research organization (CRO) services providing preclinical efficacy testing for pharmaceutical and biotech companies using cynomolgus macaque disease models. Services include study consultation, disease model customization, pharmacological studies, NHP housing, bioanalysis, safety pharmacology, and biomarkers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hamamatsu Pharma Research, operating as Hamamatsu Laboratory within CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd., is a contract research organization providing preclinical efficacy evaluation of novel therapeutics in cynomolgus macaque-based nonhuman primate disease models. It sells study consultation, disease model customization, pharmacological studies, NHP housing, bioanalysis, safety pharmacology and biomarker services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology drug-development programs.

Product overview

Hamamatsu Laboratory (operating as CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd.) is a contract research organization (CRO) that provides a unified portfolio of nonhuman primate (NHP) preclinical efficacy testing services. The core offering centers on cynomolgus macaque-based disease models for translational research, supported by integrated service modules including NHP Disease Model Development, In Vivo Imaging Services (MRI, CT, C-arm fluoroscopy), Pain Evaluation using fMRI, and Pharmacological Studies. Disease-specific models cover Central Nervous System (stroke, Parkinson's), Pain (acute, neuropathic, osteoarthritis), Ophthalmology (AMD, glaucoma), Gastroenterology (IBD, IBS), Thrombosis, and Pruritis. The company was acquired by CMIC Holdings in 2023 and will be fully absorbed into CMIC Pharma Science Co., Ltd. in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hamamatsu Laboratory (CPhS) - Nonhuman Primate Disease Model Services
• NHP Disease Model Development
• In Vivo Imaging Services
• Pain Evaluation Services
• Pharmacological Studies
• Study Consultation
• NHP Housing
• CNS Disease Models
• Pain Disease Models
• Ophthalmology Disease Models
• Gastroenterology Disease Models
• Other Therapeutic Area Models

Quantifiable outcome

• 93% genetic similarity between humans and macaques (vs 85% for rodents), enabling more predictive translational research
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Hamamatsu University School of MedicinecoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with Hamamatsu University School of Medicine for in vivo imaging services. On-site MRI (Signa Explorer 1.5T) available at the facility, with off-site access to Signa HDxt 3.0T MRI at the university.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Discovery: Global CRO offering in vitro and in vivo pharmacology services, including NHP studies. Comparable in providing preclinical efficacy testing services though operating at a much larger scale and broader service scope.
• Labcorp Drug Development (formerly Covance): Large global CRO offering preclinical safety, efficacy, and bioanalytical services, including NHP studies. Comparable in preclinical CRO capabilities though focused on a much wider therapeutic and service range.
• WuXi AppTec: China-headquartered global CRO/CMO with extensive preclinical and clinical capabilities, including NHP studies. Comparable in offering preclinical NHP services but with a much broader service portfolio and larger scale.
• Pharmaron: Global CRO/CMO offering integrated drug discovery and preclinical services, including in vivo pharmacology with NHP capabilities. Comparable in preclinical efficacy testing though broader in scope, including chemistry and manufacturing.
• Charles River Laboratories: Global CRO with established NHP preclinical efficacy and safety capabilities across CNS, ophthalmology, and pain. Directly comparable to Hamamatsu in offering NHP efficacy studies, but at much larger scale and broader service portfolio.

Direct peers

• Inotiv: US-based contract research organization providing preclinical research services including NHP models, safety assessment, and efficacy studies. Comparable in NHP preclinical focus and serving global pharma/biotech sponsors.
• JOINN Laboratories: China-based nonclinical CRO with significant NHP (cynomolgus) efficacy and toxicology capabilities, including CNS and ophthalmology models. Closest direct peer given the shared cynomolgus macaque focus and comparable model portfolio.
• Maccine: Singapore-based preclinical CRO specializing in NHP (cynomolgus) disease models and pharmacology studies. Closely comparable given Asia-Pacific NHP CRO positioning and similar disease model offerings in CNS and metabolic disease.
• BIOQUAL: US-based contract research organization specializing in NHP and small animal models for infectious disease, CNS, and other therapeutic areas. Directly comparable given the NHP specialty focus and similar sponsor client base.
• SNBL Group: Japanese-origin preclinical CRO with deep NHP expertise, including safety pharmacology and efficacy studies. Highly comparable given shared Japanese heritage, NHP specialty, and pharma/biotech client base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hamamatsu-pharma-research

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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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 Hamamatsu Pharma Research