About

About HekaBio

HekaBio accelerates access to Japan and Asia Pacific for world-leading healthcare innovations, synergistically combining the functionality of an in-licensing bio venture, a business development firm and a CRO.

Our Values

Collaboration

We maintain an ecosystem based on common goals,

mutual respect, trust and teamwork

Commitment

We ensure execution, follow-through and accountability

Creativity

We act on needs and opportunities to deliver inspired solutions

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Courage

We rise to challenges with enthusiasm and tenacity

Compliance

We conduct ourselves with integrity and transparency

Contribution

We work to enhance wellness in our local communities

and around the world

Our Team

Robert E. Claar

Chief Executive Officer,

Co-Founder

Rob creates new businesses in Japan that address the unmet needs of patients, doctors, innovators and authorities. He has three decades of focus on Japan’s healthcare ecosystem, deep regulatory knowledge and strong Key Opinion Leader doctor networks. Rob is passionate about developing innovative solutions for access to Japan’s healthcare market. 

Rob is the founder of Junicon, a global healthcare consultancy, and Vorpal Technologies, a MedTech regulatory consultancy. He maintains a worldwide trust network with leading innovators in pharmaceuticals, MedTech and cellular therapies through optimism, tenacious follow-through and a spirit of collaboration.

Benjamin D. Pratt

Chief Operating Officer,

Co-Founder

Ben has two decades of experience in strategy development, marketing, and operations, and has commercialized and marketed best-in-class medical products globally and in Japan. As GM at Vorpal Technologies, he consulted overseas healthcare innovators and launched Vorpal Women’s Health, a Vorpal commercial entity sold in 2017. His forte and personal mission is creating new businesses for the betterment of patient care.  Ben holds an MBA from the University of Southern California.

Anne Bille, MD, PhD, MPH

Chief Medical Officer

Anne is the former head of Medical Affairs, Clinical Development and Operations at Baxalta and Baxter Japan and was Medical Director for programs at Wyeth Japan and Eli Lilly Japan.  Anne is a psychiatry medical doctor and has a track record of leading successful regulatory and clinical programs in oncology, CNS, hemophilia and anesthesia.  Anne has been a resident of Japan for 19 years.

Hitoshi Torii

Chief Financial Officer

Hitoshi has 30 years of leadership experience in the life science industry including both large and venture biotech and pharmaceutical companies in executive management, finance, business development, and commercial roles.

Hitoshi’s background as a research scientist and financial professional make him a hands-on manager in biotech startups. He is experienced in private equity fundraising and IPO preparation and holds MBA & USCPA qualifications.

Takuya Narikawa

Chief Strategy Officer

Takuya has over 30 years of experience in sales and marketing, medical policy and business development in the pharmaceutical industry.

During his career, he led the creation of a vaccine business at MSD Co., Ltd., participated in the establishment of a Japanese subsidiary of a foreign-affiliated pharmaceutical company and the creation of a new domestic pharmaceutical company. 

Takuya focuses on business development in line with market trends and the requirements of our ecosystem partners. His passion is to contribute to maintaining Japan’s national health insurance system.

Tak Ito

General Manager, Vorpal Technologies

Through his time with Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk and Baxter, Tak has developed expertise in sales, marketing and market access for medical devices and pharmaceuticals in Japan. His experience spans internal medicine specialties such as CNS, Diabetes and Anesthesia in addition to surgical specialties such as Spine, Neurosurgery and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Tak leads our consulting business with the mission of accelerating MedTech innovation into the Japan market. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Russel Haskin

Director, Business Development

Russ has over two decades of business experience in Japan, and 16 years’ experience leading marketing, sales and clinical research functions for cardiovascular and neuromodulation businesses at Medtronic with Japan and Asia Pacific responsibilities.

Russ maintains strong relationships with thought leaders in many areas of cardiovascular medicine. He holds an MBA from the University of Michigan.