Minami Maeda

Minami Maeda is Chief Executive Officer of Rakuten Medical, where he leads the company’s mission to conquer cancer through the development and commercialization of photoimmunotherapy, an innovative drug-device combination therapy based on the Alluminox® platform. Guided by a personal commitment to making society better, he works closely with the global Rakuten Medical team to discover, develop, and deliver new treatment options for patients worldwide. Since joining Rakuten Medical in 2017, Minami has played a key role in building the company’s commercial and operational foundation. His contributions have included establishing commercial business models, developing global supply chains, advancing drug and device pipeline development, and strengthening engagement with governmental and regulatory authorities. As CEO, he leads Rakuten Medical’s efforts to achieve global regulatory approvals for its photoimmunotherapy platform, beginning in head and neck cancer, while advancing future indication and geographic expansion to bring innovative treatment options to patients worldwide. Prior to joining Rakuten Medical, Minami served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company in Tokyo and Johannesburg and also served in the Prime Minister’s Office of Japan. Minami earned a Master of Public Policy from the University of Tokyo and also studied at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.

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