On September 16, 2026, The Yomiuri Shimbun online highlighted Hokkaido University’s achievements in intellectual property management and technology transfer.

Hokkaido University’s patent licensing revenue reached approximately 340 million yen in fiscal year 2024, ranking fourth among Japanese universities.

The article emphasized that the COVID-19 antiviral drug Xocova (ensitrelvir fumaric acid), whose development involved Prof. Hirofumi Sawa, Director of IVReD, and Visiting Professor Akihiko Sato, contributed significantly to this achievement.

This success demonstrates how industry–academia collaboration can translate academic research into practical medical applications while contributing to the university’s intellectual property revenue.

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Source: The Yomiuri Shimbun online, September 16, 2026.

Note: The article is in Japanese only. Highlights added by IVReD.