Sonics Brings New Future to Cancer Patients

SONIRE

SONIRE Therapeutics Inc. (SONIRE) is developing a next-generation high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment system that uses acoustic engineering (ultrasound) technology created through cutting-edge research conducted by academia.

Note: The description on our website illustrates the development status of devices still under development and is not intended to promote or advertised the device. In addition, it is HP created for the purpose of providing information to business people or investors.

Sonics Future SONIRE

New methods to treat cancer are currently being developed, increasing the number of options available. However, there are still cancers for which treatment methods are limited.
SONIRE have been developing a next-generation high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment system as a new treatment modality in hopes of bringing a new future to cancer patients and their families.

NEWS

CONCEPT

Striving for a new therapeutic modality for pancreatic cancer

About cancer

Currently, 1 in 2 people will develop cancer, and 1 in 3 will die from it.

Cancer development rate

Men

63%

Women

48%

Cancer death rate

Men

34%

Women

26%

(Source: Compiled from "National Cancer Center Japan Cancer Information Service, Updated August 3, 2021 (https://ganjoho.jp/reg_stat/statistics/stat/summary.html)”)

5-year relative survival rate for cancer

One of the standards used to classify the progress of cancer is the internationally recognized standard adopted by the Union for International Cancer Control. There are 5 major stages based on how much the cancer has spread: Stage 0, Stage I, Stage II, Stage III, and Stage IV.
(Source: Compiled from "National Cancer Center Japan, Updated on March 17, 2020 (https://ganjoho.jp/reg_stat/statistics/stat/summary.html)")

Treatment effects and survival rates depend on the type of cancer. Among them, pancreatic cancer has a survival rate of less than 10%, making it one of the most intractable cancers. The pancreas is the first target of SONIRE, which is developing HIFU treatments to provide a new solution.

About HIFU

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) refers to a method of treatment that does not involve invasive methods like surgery.

治療イメージ

An ultrasound transducer is used to generate ultrasound waves outside the body, which are then focused on the target area inside the body. As the HIFU propagates through the body’s tissues, some of the ultrasound energy is absorbed and converted into heat, which significant increases the temperature in the focal area of the HIFU where the ultrasound intensity is high, resulting in tissue heating and necrosis to treat cancer.
The effects of the treatment are used in a wide range of applications as follows.

Diseases for which HIFU is currently used (in Japan)

  • Prostate enlargement
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • essential tremors

Our aim is to apply HIFU to oncology, where it is not yet used in Japan.

Research collaborators

We collaborate with various research institutions to develop HIFU.

TECHNOLOGY

About SONIRE’s technology

  • -Short time treatments possible
  • -Treatment area clearly shown via the ultrasound guide

The ultrasound-guided HIFU therapy system is being developed with the 2 features above in mind.

To achieve this, SONIRE is taking an approach involving the creation of cavitation bubbles. Cavitation refers to a physical phenomenon in which bubbles are generated and dissipated in a short period of time due to pressure differences in a liquid stream. SONIRE’s technology utilizes the absorption of ultrasound energy by the cavitation bubbles generated by ultrasonic pressure to enhance the heating effect and allow for quicker treatment.

Furthermore, while confirming the treatment area becomes difficult due to the resonance of the HIFU sound waves and the ultrasound guide, SONIRE generates cavitation bubbles in the treatment bubbles to visualize the treatment area.

SONIRE is currently developing the next-generation HIFU therapy system and is aiming to achieve commercialization in the oncology field within the next few years.

Next-generation therapy for intractable cancer

- Development of the world’s first cavitation-enhanced US-guided HIFU therapy system. -

High Intensity Focused Ultrasound

HIFU

Next-generation US-guided HIFU treatment device.

HIFU treatment mechanism

Focused ultrasound energy

Heating, necrosis

The US-guided HIFU treatment device uses ultrasound (US) imaging to monitor the affected area and uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to heat and destroy the cancer.

The benefits of HIFU treatment
The treatment is minimally invasive so the burden on the patient is reduced.
One-day treatments allow patients to receive treatment while working.
Unlike radiation, treatments can be repeated.

The features of our HIFU device

The next-generation US-guided HIFU therapy system that we are developing uses our proprietary irradiation system, a US-guidance system, and a robot guidance system.

01 HIFU interference reduction method to secure the field of view during treatment

US-guided HIFU therapy system equipped with our technology
Cavitation bubbles generated by ultrasound pulses allow the treatment area to be visualized

02 Visualization of treatment areas using cavitation bubbles.

Cavitation bubbles generated by ultrasound pulses allow the treatment area to be visualized.

03 Cavitation enhanced visualization of the treatment area

04 High treatment efficiency through multi-channel multi-point irradiation.

Heating and necrosis effects lead to shorter treatment times.

05 High precision and intuitive positioning achieved through robot guidance.

Precision drive mode
Irradiation position control in mm units.
Manual mode
Intuitive positioning

Simple operations allow precise treatments to be executed as planned.

COMPANY

Company overview

Company name
SONIRE Therapeutics Inc.
Board members
President & CEO:Tohru Satoh
Vice President & COO:Jun Okamoto
Vice President & CFO:Naoki Kobayashi
External Board Member:Hiroko Kimura (FTI)
Employees
20
Head office

803 Nihonbashi Life Science Building2, 3-11-5 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023, Japan

Established
February 2020
Fiscal year end
December
Capital
JPY 100 million
Business description
Development of ultrasound-guided highly focused ultrasound (HIFU) therapy system.
License / Registration
First class Medical Device Marketing Authorization Holder in Japan(License No. 13B1X10386)
Medical Device Manufacturer in Japan (Registration No. 13BZ201664)

Background of establishment

SONIRE is developing a next-generation ultrasound-guided HIFU therapy system using the technology, know-how, and regulatory science experience built put over a decade at Tokyo Women’s Medical University, Tohoku University, and Tokyo Medical University.

  • 2008
  • 2009
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020

Research at Tokyo Medical University

Clinical research on pancreatic cancer using HIFU made in China.
(Original research by the Department of Gastroenterology at Tokyo Medical University)

Research at Tokyo Women’s Medical University and Tohoku University

2009-2013
FIRST (Funding Program for World-Leading Innovative R&D on Science and Technology) program “Innovation in Diagnosis and Treatment led by Nanotechnology”
2011-2016
METI Strategic Program for Accelerating International Standardization International Standard Joint R&D and Dissemination Infrastructure/International Standard Joint R&D
2012-2016
Innovative Medical Products/Medical Devices/Regenerative Medical Products Commercialization Promotion Business
2013-2021
Center of Innovation Science and Technology based Radical Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program (COI STREAM)
Joined the Open Innovation Center for Manufacturing Leading the Transformation to a Smart Life Care Society

Confluence

2014-2018
AMED R&D of Advanced Medical Devices and Systems for Future Medical Care
Development of smart treatment rooms that improve both safety and medical efficiency
2015-2017
AMED Medical Device Development Promotion Research Project Development of practical acoustic mechanical therapy combining focused ultrasound treatment devices and drug delivery systems.

Members

Tohru Satoh
President & CEO/ Board Member, Founder
Jun Okamoto
Vice President & COO/ Board Member, Co-Founder
Naoki Kobayashi
Vice Presidet and CFO/ Board Member
Shin Yoshizawa
CTO/ Technical Founder
Shinichiro Umemura
Technical Advisor
Yoshihiro Muragaki MD. (PhD.)²
Scientific Advisor / Scientific Founder
Hiroko Kimura
External Board Member
Tomohiro Anzai
Auditor

Supporters

Supporting/Affiliate

COINSロゴ LINK-Jロゴ

Investors

FTIロゴ ニッセイロゴ 野村スパークロゴ SBIロゴ FFGロゴ MUFGロゴ 大和企業投資ロゴ HigoBanlGroupロゴ りそなロゴ カーボンベンチャーズロゴ QRインベストメント JSTロゴ epiSTロゴ Spurcleロゴ JA三井リースロゴ
大鵬イノベーションロゴ

Business partners

Hirataロゴ

CONTACT

If you are interested in our business, please contact us at the email address below.