ITOCHU announces a Capital and Business Alliance with CureApp, Inc., a Treatment Application Company

Entering the Mobile Healthcare Market

March 15, 2018

ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Masahiro Okafuji, President & CEO; here in after “ITOCHU”) announced today that it has signed a capital and business alliance with CureApp, Inc. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Kohta Satake, President & CEO; here in after "CureApp"), a company that researches and develops Treatment Applications as programs for mobile devices for the treatment of diseases.

Recent issues regarding the medical treatments for nicotine addiction and lifestyle diseases where many patients require longer periods of treatment or decide to discontinue the treatment due to insufficient follow-ups after seeing a doctor. Because sufficient treatment length cannot be secured for busy patients, many suffer a relapse following the completion of treatment.

CureApp is a MedTech venture company that researches, develops and produces applications for mobile devices for the treatment of diseases based on advanced software technologies and medical data. Currently, the company is working on the development of Treatment Applications, which support the treatment of diseases. The effectiveness of treatment is expected to be improved by providing daily support through a coach via such applications between doctor visits, an area that remains untouched up to now.

As a first step, CureApp is developing a "smoking cessation application", targeting people addicted to nicotine, for medical institutions. Separately, the "ascure", a new smoking cessation guidance program, for private companies has already been introduced in some ITOCHU Group companies. Its sales are also supported by Wellness Communications Corporation, an ITOCHU Group company that offers health support services.

CureApp is also developing applications for diseases associated with adult lifestyle conditions, such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The clinical development aiming for insurance coverage application is supported by A2 Healthcare Corp. and BI Medical, Inc. as relevant. ITOCHU Group will also work to support CureApp as a whole by making use of its network, considering overseas expansion to the U.S. and Asia.

ITOCHU will continue to play a role in new medical services in Japan through capital and business alliances with companies that are developing advanced technologies and services in the preventive care and healthcare sectors, spreading technologies and services originating in Japan all over the world through its global network.

CureApp, Inc.

Location Kodenma-Cho YS Building 4th floor, 12-5, Nihonbashi Kodenma-Cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
CEO Dr. Kohta Satake
Established July 31, 2014
Lines of business Development of programs for mobile devices, PHR (personal health recording) business and mobile health-related services
URL http://cureapp.co.jp/
  • *1"Treatment Application" is a registered trademark of CureApp, Inc.