President and Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Akiko Futamura serves as CEO of Hinge Therapeutics. Dr. Futamura also serves as President and CEO of Infintebio, which is focused on forming bicultural partnerships and maintaining strong networks both in Japan and North America.  She has an extensive background in the business and science of biotechnology and has worked for over 30 Japanese and US Life science companies as an advisor/consultant. Dr. Futamura previously served as the President and CEO of CarnaBio USA, the US subsidiary of Carna Biosciences from 2013-2017, where she led multiple successful drug licensing and collaboration deals with companies such as Johnson and Johnson and Gilead Sciences. 

Prior to forming InfiniteBio she was the founding member and the Executive Vice President of SC BioSciences, USA, the subsidiary of the Sumitomo Corporation, from 2001-2006. SC BioSciences, As Vice President of Summit Biotech, Sumitomo Corporation’s Corporate Venture Fund, she was one of the primary decision makers conducting investment activities of Sumitomo Corporation.

Dr. Futamura’s expertise is in the study of protein conformational change combined with the unique analysis of both public and proprietary data. This expert knowledge about the targets has led to the discovery of new rules for small molecule-target interaction leading to the effective inhibition of novel targets. Her plan is to apply this method to many targets which are responsible for important diseases and find safe and effective drugs for patients and improve the quality of life for patients and their families. Dr. Futamura obtained a BSc. degree in Biotechnology from the University of Tokyo and a Ph. D. Degree in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Medical School, Chicago.