What CDMO Association does

CDMO Association (cdmo.jp) is a Japanese general incorporated association (一般社団法人) that operates a Japan-first pharmaceutical CDMO intelligence platform. The core product is a structured directory and comparative analysis tool that aggregates domestic and international CDMO/CMO capabilities across modality, dosage form, GMP compliance, manufacturing scale, and equipment, supported by a CRM-stored network of hundreds of CDMO contacts used for rapid feasibility checks. The platform serves three audiences: Japanese pharmaceutical companies seeking CDMO partners, drug discovery ventures and biotech firms needing CMC and manufacturing support, and overseas CDMOs pursuing entry into the Japanese market. Auxiliary services include a free CDMO Sourcing Support consulting stream that handles candidate identification, initial outreach, and requirements organization, and a venture capital function (ベンチャーファンド事業) providing seed investment bundled with CMC strategy and CDMO selection support for early-stage drug discovery startups.

The organization is non-profit by design: it charges no fees to users and the founder, Moto Dohi, treats the activity itself and the learnings gained as compensation. The VC arm is funded entirely with proprietary capital, with no external LP fundraising disclosed. The founder brings 15+ years of CDMO/CMO experience, including manufacturing/CMC roles at Pfizer Japan and sustained-release implant development at a Swiss CDMO, plus an IMD MBA and prior private equity experience. The platform's GTM is content-led (technical articles, news hub, event coverage) supported by direct consultative outreach and a LinkedIn presence, with CPHI Japan 2026 (100+ CDMO exhibitors expected) and BioJapan as primary channel events. Operating footprint is Japan (Tokyo Nihonbashi HQ and Ebina office), with an English-language landing page aimed at overseas CDMOs. No revenue, headcount, funding rounds, patents, or named customers are disclosed.

Name

CDMO Association

Legal name

、一般行者法人CDMO協会

Website

https://cdmo.jp

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CDMO Association (cdmo.jp) is a Japanese non-profit that runs a Japan-first pharmaceutical CDMO intelligence and sourcing platform, offering free CDMO search, comparative analysis, and consulting to Japanese pharma companies, biotech ventures, and overseas CDMOs entering Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical CDMO Information & Sourcing Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Clinical Trial Material (CTM) Manufacturing & Supply CDMO (HLAGABAK), Small-Molecule Drug Product (Solid/Oral/Parenteral) CDMO (HLAGABAB), Small-Molecule API & Intermediates CDMO (HLAGABAA)

Keywords

• CDMO intelligence platform
• Pharmaceutical manufacturing outsourcing
• CDMO sourcing support
• CMC development information
• Drug discovery venture capital

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (Nihonbashi)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Non-profit CDMO Sourcing Support: cdmo.jp operates as a non-profit organization. The service charges no fees to users seeking CDMO partners. The representative, 土肥基一, pursues this work as he aims to contribute to Japanese drug discovery through CDMOs, treating the learnings gained from activities as future 'compensation'.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CDMO Association operates cdmo.jp, a Japan-first, Japanese-only pharmaceutical CDMO intelligence platform that aggregates and organizes information on domestic and international CDMOs/CMOs for cross-comparison by modality, dosage form, GMP compliance, scale, and technology tags. The platform supports pharmaceutical companies, drug discovery ventures, and biotech firms in CDMO selection and sourcing. The organization also provides consultative CDMO Sourcing Support (candidate identification, initial outreach, requirements organization) and runs a Venture Capital function offering seed investment combined with CMC strategy and CDMO selection assistance for drug discovery startups.

Product overview

cdmo.jp is a Japan-first pharmaceutical CDMO intelligence platform operated by the CDMO Association (的一般社團法人cdmo.jp). The platform consists of a core CDMO directory and search tool supported by auxiliary services including CDMO sourcing consulting, hands-on VC support for drug discovery startups, and curated industry news. The core platform enables cross-comparison of domestic and international CDMOs by modality, scale, GMP compliance, and technical capabilities. The VC function (CDMOナビゲーター) provides seed investment combined with CMC strategy consulting and CDMO selection support. The CDMO sourcing support service assists pharmaceutical companies and biotech ventures with initial outreach, requirements organization, and coordination with CDMO candidates. Together, these components serve as a bridge connecting Japanese pharmaceutical practitioners with optimal CDMO partners domestically and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• cdmo.jp Platform

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PharmaCircle: Pharmaceutical industry intelligence platform with deep CDMO/CMO and outsourced-manufacturing data, including capability profiling and comparative analytics. Closely aligned with cdmo.jp's standardized comparison approach to CDMO capabilities and serves a similar pharma practitioner audience.
• Pharmaoffer: European B2B marketplace that aggregates API suppliers, CDMOs, and CMO capabilities and enables request-for-quote workflows. Closely mirrors cdmo.jp's buyer-side matching model with comparable filtering by modality and capability, though Pharmaoffer is for-profit and globally focused rather than Japan-only.
• PharmaSources: Global B2B platform connecting pharmaceutical buyers with suppliers including CDMOs/CMOs, APIs, and excipients. Directly comparable to cdmo.jp as a CDMO marketplace and information hub serving pharma practitioners, although PharmaSources is broader in scope (covering APIs, intermediates, machinery) and China-rooted.
• PharmaCompass: Pharmaceutical business intelligence and supplier-discovery platform offering CDMO/CMO sourcing data, pricing intelligence, and supplier profiles. Functionally comparable to cdmo.jp's directory and comparison features with global rather than Japanese-only coverage.

Emerging players

• Contract Pharma: Industry media brand covering contract development, manufacturing, and outsourcing for the pharmaceutical sector, including CDMO/CMO directories and feature content. Similar audience to cdmo.jp's pharmaceutical practitioners but delivered primarily as content/media rather than a curated sourcing platform.
• BioPlan Associates: Biopharmaceutical industry consultancy and market research firm producing the widely cited Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Capacity and CMO/CDMO industry reports. Comparable to cdmo.jp's research and advisory orientation for biopharma outsourcing decisions, though focused on US/global rather than Japan.
• Life Science Connect (Nice Insight / Outsourced Pharma): B2B media and CDMO/CMO selection platform (Nice Insight, Outsourced Pharma) that connects pharma buyers with contract service providers. Comparable CDMO matchmaking and content model to cdmo.jp, with stronger US/EU traction but a similar buyer-side comparison framework.

Others

• PharmaBoardroom: Pharmaceutical industry intelligence and interview-driven content platform covering CDMO/CMO trends, executives, and outsourcing topics. Thematically adjacent to cdmo.jp's content and insight function for pharmaceutical decision-makers, but does not operate a sourcing/directory service.

Broad incumbents

• Informa (CPHI): Global B2B events and information group operating CPHI (including CPHI Japan), the largest pharma/CDMO networking event series worldwide. A broader incumbent that overlaps with cdmo.jp's market entry support and content functions but delivers value primarily through large in-person events rather than a curated directory.
• Citeline (Informa Pharma Intelligence): Large pharma and biotech intelligence subscription platform covering pipeline, clinical, manufacturing, and CDMO/CMO information. Adjacent to cdmo.jp's intelligence layer but offers a much broader pharma data suite to enterprise buyers rather than focused CDMO sourcing for Japanese practitioners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cdmo-jp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CDMO Association