June – Reverse Pitch Event​

Ken Horne is Managing Partner of AN Ventures, a global biotech investment firm focused on identifying scientific opportunities in Japan and building them into U.S.-based companies. Ken serves on the boards of Typewriter Therapeutics, Imbria Pharmaceuticals, Capacity Bio, Pahr Therapeutics, and Ando Therapeutics. 

Ken is a seasoned healthcare investor, entrepreneur, and executive with more than two decades of experience founding, scaling, and financing life sciences companies. Previously, he served as Chair of RDiscovery (Remiges Ventures). As an entrepreneur, he co-founded or led Aline Aesthetics (acquired by Allergan), Symic Bio (acquired by Nordic Bio), and Teon Therapeutics. 

Earlier in his career, Ken was a founding member of TauTona Group, an early-stage life sciences venture capital fund. He began his career at The Foundry, a leading medtech incubator, and was involved in eValve (acquired by Abbott) and Cierra (acquired by Terumo). 

Ken holds BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University and is a Kauffman Fellow (Class 17), where he was the Jeff Timmons Leadership Award recipient. 

Mr. Konagai joined AVM in 2020. Before joining AVM, he worked at the Strategic department at Astellas Pharma Inc. based in Tokyo HQ since 2015. He has led various internal projects and evaluation of external later stage opportunities across multiple therapeutic areas and modalities including Oncology, Ophthalmology and regenerative medicine. In parallel, he served as a member who develops corporate global R&D strategy and business strategy for regenerative medicine using his scientific and business intelligence. From 2004 to 2015, he was engaged in Oncology research programs including kinase inhibitors, Immuno-Oncology and biologics from target discovery to clinical stage as a pharmacology research scientist in Drug Discovery Research Center at Astellas Pharma Inc. Mr. Konagai has received his Master of Life Science degree in the field of Integrated Life Science from Kyoto University and Master of Business Administration, Entrepreneurship and Innovation from University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Dr. Seiichi Inamura is Director of Partnering at Chugai Pharma USA, where he is responsible for the search, evaluation, and licensing of innovative drug discovery technologies and clinical-stage assets. He began his pharmaceutical career as a medicinal chemist, contributing to the advancement of preclinical and clinical candidates across multiple therapeutic areas before transitioning into business development roles.

Dr. Inamura earned his Ph.D. in Synthetic Organic Chemistry from Osaka University and subsequently conducted postdoctoral research in Germany, focusing on biochemistry and innate immunity. His early industry experience includes positions at Banyu (Merck) and Meiji Seika, where he gained broad exposure to medicinal chemistry, international marketing, and cross-functional collaboration.

Over more than a decade in partnering and external innovation, Dr. Inamura has led in- and out-licensing activities and strategic search and evaluation initiatives. He is highly committed to connecting global research organizations with pharmaceutical R&D to accelerate innovation and deliver future healthcare solutions.

Takahiro “Taka” Nagayama, Ph.D. is heading Research Institute San Diego in Daiichi Sankyo.  He joined Daiichi Sankyo in 2000, then seasoned as a research leader at Daiichi Sankyo with a career spanning via studying abroad in Johns Hopkins, he progressed to Senior Director roles in Cardiovascular Metabolics in 2013 and Cell Therapy in 2016, transitioned to Business Development as Senior Director in 2021.  After baking to Research function, he engaged the establishment of Research Institute Boston in 2024, and the establishment of Research Institute San Diego in 2025 and now leading the open innovation activities in the West coast.