Cardio, Inc.

Cardio, Inc. (株式会社カルディオ) is a Japanese medical device company headquartered in Kobe, Hyogo. Founded in October 2001 as a campus venture from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, it was originally established to realize regenerative medicine-based treatment for severe heart failure. The company name "Cardio" reflects this cardiac focus, and its logo evokes a heart and its beat. Over more than two decades, Cardio has weathered financial crises, shifted its business focus from regenerative medicine research to medical device development, and built a niche portfolio of advanced devices for pediatric and cardiac care. Since July 2025, it has been a subsidiary of Paramount Bed Co., Ltd. Cardio's core business now centers on the development, import, and sale of cutting-edge medical devices and technologies for cardiac and circulatory diseases, symptom relief, preventive medicine, and healthcare. Its flagship products include the EXCOR® Pediatric external ventricular assist system for children awaiting heart transplants, the Quad Holder™, and EZ Regular. The company also developed and sold cell culture media for ES and iPS cells and feeder cells, and applied its regenerative medicine know-how to functional cosmetics such as "Parts Slim" and the "Totono" series, though cosmetics are now limited to OEM. With a small, specialized team of about 10 employees, Cardio operates without a dedicated sales force, focusing on regulatory affairs, technical development, and clinical support. It partners with sales companies to expand product reach efficiently. The company is committed to contributing to patient quality of life and a vibrant society, guided by its motto "Connecting Lives, Connecting Dreams" (命をつなぐ 夢をつなぐ). It participates in the Regional Revitalization SDGs Public-Private Partnership Platform and emphasizes goals related to health, education, economic growth, and sustainable communities.

Cardio, Inc. was established on October 31, 2001, as a campus venture originating from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, with the goal of realizing regenerative medicine-based treatment for severe heart failure. It initially operated from an incubation building in Osaka City. From its founding, the company conducted research not only on culturing and processing stem cells for cell transplantation to treat severe heart failure but also on transplantation methods, achieving numerous results. This attracted significant investment from venture capital and contributed to laying the foundation of regenerative medicine. However, a large gap emerged between research progress and commercialization. By 2005, the company faced a crisis that threatened not only the continuation of research but its very existence. A further blow came from an overcharge issue related to a NEDO commissioned project. Although there was no embezzlement of research funds by individuals or unexplained expenditures by the company, discrepancies between work reports and lab notebooks led to a demand for repayment of research funds due to overcharged labor costs. Normally, this would have forced Cardio to dissolve, but due to its research achievements, venture capital shareholders wished for its continuation. In April 2006, under former President Yanagi, a new management structure continued the company's operations. This marked the beginning of a difficult period. April 2006 can be considered the start of the company's second founding period. However, due to depleted operating funds, the abandonment of regenerative medicine R&D, loss of commercialization seeds, and restructuring, the company started from a negative position rather than zero. The second founding period was a long, bottoming-out struggle for survival. In July 2007, the headquarters was relocated to Kobe, and the search for new commercialization seeds began. First, based on past regenerative medicine research, the company developed culture media for ES and iPS cells and feeder cells, and began selling them in 2008. Around the same time, it applied its research results and technologies to cosmetics, launching the functional cosmetic "Parts Slim" in 2008 and the "Totono" (整う) cosmetics series in 2011. The "Totono" series not only slightly restored the company's nearly depleted working capital but also led to business partnerships with cosmetics companies and bank loans, greatly contributing to the company's survival. (Note: Although "Totono" cosmetics gained many loyal customers, the cosmetics business is now limited to OEM due to the need to allocate more resources to medical devices.) In parallel with the cosmetics business, the company shifted its main target from regenerative medicine/pharmaceutical development to medical device development, working as one to build a future foundation. After repeated planning and setbacks on numerous development projects, in 2006 it obtained a Class I medical device manufacturing and sales license and developed products such as "Quad Holder™," "EZ Regular," and "EXCOR® Pediatric," and continues to handle multiple development projects. On July 31, 2025, the company became a subsidiary of Paramount Bed Co., Ltd. The pediatric external ventricular assist system is an essential medical device for saving the lives and maintaining the health of transplant-waiting patients, and its stable supply is extremely important. To continuously develop the business and expand into further areas, sustained investment and a new structure were indispensable. Therefore, by becoming a subsidiary of Paramount Bed Co., the company chose a path to eliminate concerns about stable product supply and aim for further contributions to pediatric severe heart failure treatment. Going forward, Cardio will continue to take on challenges as a small but cutting-edge medical device and technology company, leveraging its unique business history and experience under the motto "Connecting Lives, Connecting Dreams."

• Founded as a campus venture from Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine.

• New management structure begins company reconstruction.

• Obtained Class I medical device manufacturing and sales license.

• Headquarters relocated to Kobe (Kobe Biomedical Innovation Center).

• Began selling ES/iPS cell and feeder cell culture media; launched "Parts Slim" cosmetics.

• Launched "Totono" cosmetics series.

• Headquarters relocated to Creative Lab Kobe.

• Became a subsidiary of Paramount Bed Co., Ltd.

Niche medical device developer focused on pediatric cardiac and circulatory care, leveraging regenerative medicine research and a lean, specialized organizational structure.

• EXCOR® Pediatric

  Pediatric external ventricular assist system for children awaiting heart transplants.

• Quad Holder™

  Medical device developed by Cardio.

• EZ Regular

  Medical device developed by Cardio.

• Cell culture media for ES/iPS cells and feeder cells

  Developed based on regenerative medicine research, sold since 2008.

• Parts Slim

  Functional cosmetic launched in 2008.

• Totono cosmetics series

  Cosmetics series launched in 2011; now OEM only.

1. 1株式会社カルディオ | 命をつなぐ 夢をつなぐ 最先端医療技術の開発を目指すカルディオcardio.co.jp
2. 2会社の歴史 | 株式会社カルディオcardio.co.jp
3. 3事業戦略 | 株式会社カルディオcardio.co.jp
4. 4会社概要 | 株式会社カルディオcardio.co.jp
5. 5Cardio Intelligence Inc. - Wikidatawikidata.org