Neurophet, a Korean company specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) for brain disease diagnosis and treatment, said it has appointed Dr. Atsushi Iwata, Vice President of the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology and a physician at the University of Tokyo Hospital, as its new scientific advisor.

The appointment aims to strengthen the technical validation of Neurophet’s products, shape its research and development strategy, and secure expert guidance for its global commercialization efforts, particularly in Japan.

Dr. Iwata is a neurologist and world-renowned authority in behavioral neuroscience and neuroimaging. He also serves as head of the outpatient clinic at the University of Tokyo Hospital and has collaborated extensively with the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai. He is recognized as one of the country’s leading prescribers of Eisai’s anti-amyloid Alzheimer’s therapy Leqembi (lecanemab) and plays a central role in the Japanese Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (Japanese ADNI).

As a scientific advisor, Dr. Iwata will provide technical and medical input on Neurophet’s Alzheimer’s disease imaging solutions and contribute to shaping its Japan-focused business strategies.

He will also support global networking by facilitating connections with key opinion leaders and exploring partnership opportunities with international companies.

“Working with Dr. Iwata will not only enhance global confidence in our technology but also serve as a critical turning point in our entry into the Japanese market,” Neurophet Co-CEO Jake Been said. “Through strong synergies in R&D and commercialization, we will continue to reinforce our global competitiveness.”

Neurophet has been accelerating its overseas expansion through partnerships with major global pharmaceutical firms and targeted strategies in key markets. In Japan, its AI-based imaging products — Neurophet AQUA, Neurophet SCALE PET, and Neurophet AQUA AD — have been officially certified by the Japan Radiological Society (JRS) as health insurance-reimbursable technologies.

Building on this recognition, the company has partnered with Hokuyaku Takeyama Holdings, a leading Japanese distributor of medical devices and pharmaceuticals with annual revenue of approximately 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion), to expand access to medical institutions nationwide.