DBJ Invests in ReThink Medical, Inc., a Developer of Innovative Medical Devices for Heart Failure Monitoring

Development Bank of Japan Inc. (“DBJ”) and Emergent Medical Partners (“EMP”), a Silicon Valley venture capital firm specializing in medical equipment, and others have invested in ReThink Medical, Inc., a developer of innovative medical devices for heart failure monitoring.

Based in California, ReThink is a startup developer of medical devices designed to predict and reduce the occurrence of worsening heart failure. Heart failure occurs when heart dysfunction causes difficulty in breathing, fatigue, and edema, resulting in hospitalization or intervention. The aging of populations in Japan and around the world are driving growing demand for medical techniques to monitor heart failure. There is particular interest in non-invasive devices that can do the job remotely.

ReThink’s devices in development comprise hardware that measures six types of vital signs, and machine learning algorithms that help identify progressive heart failure from these measurements. This project was undertaken to accelerate the development of these devices through an input of capital provided by DBJ and EMP, among others.

Through support for business development in fields such as pharmaceuticals, medical appliances and digital health, DBJ is working to stimulate innovation throughout the healthcare industry. As one means of promoting these activities, DBJ has followed a fund investment in EMP in 2014 with support for Japanese companies through investment, loans, and advisory services while at the same time building local networks.

In returning to companies the knowledge obtained through this project, and supporting initiatives aimed at creating a new value structure for pharmaceutical makers, DBJ will be following its corporate philosophy of “applying financial expertise to design the future ? opening up new frontiers to resolve the issues of our clients and society and promote sustainable development for Japan and the world.”

** Reference: The Japanese Circulation Society, Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure, 2017 revised edition.


Inquiries:
　Corporate Finance Department, Division 6　Healthcare Office
　Telephone: 03-3244-1730