Sumitomo Corporation Invests in AI-Driven Cancer Radiation Therapy Startup AiRato
Sumitomo Corporation has announced its investment in AiRato Inc., a startup focused on AI-based solutions for cancer radiation therapy. Alongside the investment, the two companies have signed an exclusive overseas distribution agreement for AiRato's AI planning software, which supports radiation therapy treatment planning. Sumitomo plans to ensure regulatory compliance across Asia and aims to begin distribution in 2026.
The Challenge in Cancer Radiation Therapy
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is now widely used in advanced medical settings, including in Japan. IMRT targets cancer cells precisely while protecting healthy tissue, offering patients a less burdensome treatment than traditional radiation therapy. However, planning an IMRT treatment can take up to six hours per patient. This process involves identifying tumor locations from CT images and carefully calculating radiation doses, which demands significant time and effort from medical professionals.
AiRato’s AI Planning Software
Founded in 2022 in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, AiRato Inc. develops medical software that leverages AI to support cancer radiation therapy planning. Their AI planning software, developed in collaboration with about 15 Japanese university hospitals using IMRT, accelerates treatment planning by analyzing CT images to identify tumors and radiation fields. This reduces planning time dramatically—from six hours to roughly 20 minutes—enabling doctors and medical staff to work more efficiently and focus on patient care.
Sumitomo Corporation’s Healthcare Initiatives
Sumitomo Corporation’s Life Sciences division has been active in pharmaceutical-related businesses since the 1970s, covering drug discovery, raw material supply, marketing, sales, and contract manufacturing. The company’s current Medium-Term Management Plan 2026 highlights medical technology support as a strategic priority.
Previously, Sumitomo invested in AOI Biosciences Inc., a startup offering testing services for infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. AOI’s testing is already used in hospitals in Malaysia and is expanding to other Asian countries like Indonesia and South Korea. Sumitomo will apply this experience and its global network to support the expansion of AiRato’s AI planning software across Asia.
By combining its expertise in healthcare and global reach with advanced technologies from Japanese medical startups, Sumitomo aims to expand its medical support business worldwide.
Company Overview: AiRato Inc.
- Company Name: AiRato Inc.
- Key Executives: CEO Yuto Kimura, CTO Noriyuki Kadoya
- Head Office: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture
- Business Description: Planning and development of medical software programs
- Established: 2022
- Website: AiRato Inc. – Supporting healthcare DX with AI for radiation therapy
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