EdgeX Co., Ltd. Forms Business Alliance with ZeLo Law Office to Comprehensively Support Healthcare Industry Compliance with "AI x Experts"

EdgeX Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Kenichi Takanura; hereinafter "EdgeX") is pleased to announce that it has commenced a business alliance with ZeLo Law Office (Location: Koto-ku, Tokyo; Representative Lawyer: Masataka Ogasawara; hereinafter "ZeLo Law Office"). Through this alliance, EdgeX will combine its advertising material check AI agent "Yakki-kun" with ZeLo Law Office's specialized legal services in the healthcare sector to comprehensively support companies in building compliance systems.

■ Challenges Facing the Healthcare Industry

In recent years, with the rapid expansion of the digital advertising market, the number of advertisements that healthcare-related companies must review has been steadily increasing. At the same time, regulations such as the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations (Keihyoho) and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act (Yakkiho) have been strengthened, requiring higher accuracy for each review. In this situation, many companies face two challenges: "increasing advertising review workload" and "shortage of specialized personnel."

Furthermore, it is not uncommon for companies to have insufficient internal review standards and regulations, or for existing rules not to be updated to reflect the latest legal revisions. There is a demand for sophisticated legal judgments that cannot be handled solely by AI-driven efficiency, as well as support for the establishment of the system itself.

EdgeX has adopted the management philosophy of "solving structural problems in the healthcare industry through AI technology and contributing to society by building a sound market environment," and has developed and provided the advertising material check AI agent "Yakki-kun." On the other hand, ZeLo Law Office has a specialized team in the healthcare sector and a wide range of support achievements, from advertising regulation compliance to business model design and support for obtaining permits and licenses, making it a law firm strong in the medical and healthcare fields.

By combining the strengths of both companies, we believe we can support corporate compliance from both the efficiency of AI and the sophisticated judgment of experts, leading to this business alliance.

■ Details of the Business Alliance

This business alliance will involve mutual cooperation in the following three areas to provide comprehensive support to healthcare companies:

1. Commencement of PoC for "Yakki-kun" Introduction at ZeLo Law Office

ZeLo Law Office has commenced a Proof of Concept (PoC) utilizing "Yakki-kun" for client-facing advertising expression check operations. By combining AI's initial checks with expert legal confirmation by lawyers, we will provide faster and more accurate legal services.

2. Introduction of Experts to EdgeX Clients

For major companies to which EdgeX provides "Yakki-kun," specialist lawyers from ZeLo Law Office will be introduced for highly complex legal judgments and individual cases that are difficult for AI checks to handle*. This will achieve an appropriate division of roles between AI and experts.

*EdgeX will not receive any compensation for introductions.

3. Support for Establishing Internal Standards and Regulations

For companies that lack established review standards and regulations, or those that need to adapt to the latest legal revisions, we will provide system building support utilizing the know-how of both companies.

■ About the Advertising Material Check AI Agent "Yakki-kun"

"Yakki-kun" is an AI agent developed by EdgeX to support advertising review under the Act against Unjustifiable Premiums and Misleading Representations and the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Act. By having it learn various guidelines, as well as company-specific product information and internal rules, it provides advertising expression check and feedback functions capable of handling complex review tasks*.

"Yakki-kun" service website: https://yakki-kun.com/

*"Yakki-kun" does not provide legal judgments or advice; for final legal judgments, please consult a lawyer.

■ Messages from Both Company Representatives

■ ZeLo Law Office's Areas of Expertise in the Healthcare Sector

ZeLo Law Office provides one-stop support, from advertising and other regulatory compliance to business model design support, patent application and maintenance strategies, licensing agreements, and medical litigation. In particular, it has strengths in cutting-edge fields such as health tech and has a wide range of support achievements, from startups to listed companies.

Details of ZeLo Law Office's healthcare sector services: https://zelojapan.com/practice/healthcare

■ EdgeX Co., Ltd. Overview

Company Name: EdgeX Co., Ltd.

Location: WAW Nihonbashi, 3F Nittetsu Nihonbashi Building, 1-13-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Kenichi Takanura, President & CEO

Established: July 26, 2023

Business Activities: Generative AI consulting services, development and provision of advertising material check AI agent "Yakki-kun"

Certifications: ISO/IEC 27001:2022

Official Website: https://www.edgex.co.jp/

Yakki-kun Service Website: https://yakki-kun.com/

■ ZeLo Law Office Overview

Established in March 2017, ZeLo Law Office is a law firm specializing in corporate legal affairs. With the organizational vision of "transforming legal services, contributing to the creation of law, and becoming the legal foundation for all economic activities," it provides legal services in a wide range of corporate legal fields, from startups to small and medium-sized enterprises and listed companies. It actively incorporates legal tech and IT tools into its operations to support corporate management and business growth.

Location: 10F Toyosu Foresia, 3-2-24 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo

Representative Lawyer: Masataka Ogasawara

Established: March 2017

Official Website: https://zelojapan.com