SNBL and Tasso Inc. to Establish Joint Venture in Japan

Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. and Tasso Inc. are creating a new joint venture firm (JV) to exclusively distribute the latter’s proprietary on-demand blood collection device in Japan.

The JV’s establishment aims to contribute to important themes in Japan such as self-medication, preventative medicine, telemedicine, and reducing the burden on medical professionals (particularly doctors and nurses), by leveraging the features of Tasso’s self-blood collection device. The product enables a painless collection; it can be self-administered and used anywhere, including at home; and it collects high-quality blood samples using a compatible collection tube.

“We are pleased to partner with SNBL as part of the SGG initiative. SNBL’s expertise will streamline the entry of Tasso’s virtually painless blood collection technology to the Japanese market, enabling a better patient experience for Japan,” Tasso Co-Founder/CEO Ben Casavant, Ph.D., said.

The JV has the exclusive right to sell Tasso products in Japan, and will manage and oversee the product’s regulatory process, commercialization (including promotion, marketing and sales), and distribution in Japan.

“As part of the SGG initiative, we aim to support the growth of Japanese companies that are aiming to enter the U.S. market and U.S. companies that are planning to enter the Japanese market, and to create new business opportunities for both sides. We believe this JV is an initiative based on the SGG concept and will make a significant contribution to the improvement of clinical experience,” SNBL President/CEO and Representative Chairman Dr. Ryoichi Nagata stated.

The SNBL Global Gateway (SGG) project leverages the strong network of SNBL’s contract research organization (CRO) and translational research (TR) businesses, which have been cultivated over many years, centered its facilities in Washington State (U.S.), and maximizes the use of SNBL’s strong network of Japanese and American academia, investors, and professional companies.

Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories Ltd. is a listed nonclinical contract research organization (CRO) founded in Kagoshima, Japan, in 1957. SNBL is branded as the only company in Japan that can provide a portfolio of services and solutions for drug discovery and development for pharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, universities, and research institutions both in Japan and overseas. The SNBL’s Translational Research business has engaged in drug discovery, with a focus on business development and out-licensing of its proprietary intranasal drug delivery technologies and intranasal devices. 

Tasso is an emerging healthcare technology company that is transforming the traditional blood collection paradigm with a patient-centric approach. The company’s devices enable simple, convenient, and virtually painless blood collection for users. Headquartered in Seattle, Tasso is privately held and funded by grants, investments, and co-development deals with various industry leaders.