Business Development & Planning Division Senior Manager
Tokyo Kyodo IP
Faculty of Science, Tohoku University, BA in Organic Chemistry,
Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, MS in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Patent attorney
After engaging in research on inflammatory and immunological diseases in the bio-research department in a pharmaceutical company, Mr. Yoshihiro Igarashi got into the Intellectual Property world in 1997 (subsequently, registered patent attorney in 1999 while working at the company).
While he has been involved in life science and healthcare fields for the entire course of his history through 7 years in the pharmaceutical industry, about 5 years in the investment banking (mainly IPOs of private companies in the healthcare/medical/biotech sectors), and a long career in law and IP firms, he has had over 20 years of practical experiences and track records in both Intellectual Property and its related fields as follows: e.g., filing and establishing of domestic/foreign patents, utility models, design patents, and trademarks; portfolio management thereof; IP due diligence; IP valuation; as well as advising on IP monetization, etc.
Especially, he is good at, as well as has a good track record of, the following specialized areas: pharmaceutical, biotech, medical, and healthcare associate technologies, as well as their associated devices, software, and digital/IT associate technologies - i.e., health-tech/medi-tech, etc.
IP Strategy should be designed to meet the business model of the company along with accurately grasping the business model, thereby finally support the goals of the company. Therefore, the fact is the process of establishing Intellectual Property Rights is exactly a way to visualize the company's strengths and share them internally. In carrying out his duties, he values dialogue and cooperation with his clients from such perspectives.
・2020 onwards: Steering Committee, Intellectual Property Assistance and Support Center,
Japan Patent Attorneys Association.
・December 2021, December 2022: Japan Patent Office commissioned project "2021 IP Acceleration Program
for Startups (IPAS)" IP Mentor.
Joined Eisai Co. Ltd.
Joined TMI Associates.
Joined Nomura Securities Co. Ltd.
Joined Shimizu Patent Office. (currently Symphonia Intellectual Property Office)
Joined Tokyo Kyodo Accounting Office as Senior Manager. (Partner patent attorney at Tokyo Kyodo Patent Office P.C.)
Patent attorney
-Performs various procedures from filing applications for domestic and foreign patents, utility model rights, design rights, and trademark rights to obtaining rights particularly in the field of life science (medicine, bio, food, cosmetics, etc.) as well as services such as proposal and management of the portfolio strategies, appeals (appeal against examiner’s decision of refusal, trial for invalidation, etc.), IP-related lawsuits, patent-related searches, and FTO evaluations
-IP due diligence services
-IP value evaluation services
-IP governance (IP/intangible asset investment/utilization strategy) advisory services
-IP monetization scheme proposal services
“Value Evaluation of Bio Companies in the Capital Market”: Part-time lecturer, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
“Value Evaluation of Bio Companies in the Capital Market”: Visiting Assistant Professor, Tokyo Medical and Dental University
“1999 Revised Patent Act/Revision of the Law Regarding Facilitation of Patent Infringement Demonstration and the Response by Firms” – The First Patent Committee, The Second Subcommittee: article in Chizai Kanri (Intellectual Property Management), Japan Intellectual Property Association (Vol. 51, No. 8) August 2001
