Gakken Science Books: The Story Behind the "World's First" Drug Expected to Extend Cats' Lives by Treating Kidney Disease – 'Research on AIM' Released
Gakken, a group company of Gakken Holdings, has started pre-orders for 'Research on AIM: The Story Behind the "World's First" Drug Expected to Extend Cats' Lives,' a book that chronicles the research and development of a potential cat kidney disease treatment drug. Supervised by Toru Miyazaki, it is scheduled for release on June 4, 2026.
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Gakken Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo), a group company of Gakken Holdings Co., Ltd. (Shinagawa, Tokyo / Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara), began pre-orders on April 30, 2026, for the Gakken Science Book 'Research on AIM: The Story Behind the "World's First" Drug Expected to Extend Cats' Lives' (supervised by Toru Miyazaki of AIM Medical Research Institute / scheduled for release on June 4, 2026).
■ Current Scientific Research Driven by People's Hopes
Approximately 9 million cats are kept as pets in Japan. As family members, the lifespan of cats living with humans is currently said to be around 15 to 20 years. But what if you heard that they could actually live much longer?
In fact, many cats develop kidney disease as they age and pass away before reaching their natural lifespan. Kidney disease is considered difficult to cure once contracted. Many cat owners have suffered greatly from this disease, which can be called a cat's destiny. The researcher featured in this book, Toru Miyazaki, discovered a protein called "AIM" and developed a drug expected to treat cat kidney disease. If this drug is put into practical use, there is a possibility that cats' lifespans could be significantly extended.
On April 24, 2026, Dr. Miyazaki applied to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for approval to manufacture and sell the drug as a veterinary medicine.
This book traces the research from its setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its restart with donations from cat lovers nationwide, and finally to the application for national approval for manufacturing and sales. It is a story of scientific research featuring the path taken by Toru Miyazaki, who resigned as a professor at the University of Tokyo to pursue his goal of "curing incurable diseases," and the many people who supported him.
■ Supervisor Profile
◉ Supervisor: Toru Miyazaki
Representative Director, AIM Medical Research Institute. Doctor of Medicine. With the goal of "curing incurable diseases," he achieved results as an immunologist at research institutions in Europe and America. Since discovering the unknown protein "AIM" in 1996, he has continued research on its various disease-treating effects. He has elucidated the effects of treating kidney disease not only in humans but also in cats (feline animals) and has been involved in drug development, attracting great expectations. His books include 'The Day Cats Live to 30' and co-authored 'The Shape of Science' (both from Jiji Press).
AIM Medical Research Institute: https://iamaim.jp/
▼ Prologue Sample Reading
d2535-8954-664208f5e511cc2010d7b0f56660a3f2.pdf
▼ Table of Contents
＜About Gakken Science Books＞
This is a science non-fiction series born from 'Gakken no Kagaku,' a book with experiment kits for elementary school students that has sold over 500,000 copies. It portrays current research by cool scientists in an easy-to-understand yet uncompromising way, delivering the image of researchers who struggle, fail, but never give up.
[Product Overview]
Gakken Science Books
'Research on AIM: The Story Behind the "World's First" Drug Expected to Extend Cats' Lives'
Supervised by: Toru Miyazaki (AIM Medical Research Institute, Doctor of Medicine)
Written by: Kaori Awata
Edited by: Gakken Science Editorial Department
Price: 1,760 yen (tax included)
Scheduled Release Date: June 4, 2026
Format: Shirokuban (188 x 128 mm) / 176 pages
E-book: Available
ISBN: 978-4-05-206339-8
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
Gakken Publishing Website: https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1020633900
[Click here to reserve/purchase this book]
・Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4052063392/
・Rakuten Books: https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18591373/
・7net: https://7net.omni7.jp/detail/1107704372
■ Gakken Inc.
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of Establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million yen
・Address: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business Activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of Establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million yen
・Sales: 199.1 billion yen, Consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025 fiscal year)
■ Current Scientific Research Driven by People's Hopes
Approximately 9 million cats are kept as pets in Japan. As family members, the lifespan of cats living with humans is currently said to be around 15 to 20 years. But what if you heard that they could actually live much longer?
In fact, many cats develop kidney disease as they age and pass away before reaching their natural lifespan. Kidney disease is considered difficult to cure once contracted. Many cat owners have suffered greatly from this disease, which can be called a cat's destiny. The researcher featured in this book, Toru Miyazaki, discovered a protein called "AIM" and developed a drug expected to treat cat kidney disease. If this drug is put into practical use, there is a possibility that cats' lifespans could be significantly extended.
On April 24, 2026, Dr. Miyazaki applied to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for approval to manufacture and sell the drug as a veterinary medicine.
This book traces the research from its setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its restart with donations from cat lovers nationwide, and finally to the application for national approval for manufacturing and sales. It is a story of scientific research featuring the path taken by Toru Miyazaki, who resigned as a professor at the University of Tokyo to pursue his goal of "curing incurable diseases," and the many people who supported him.
■ Supervisor Profile
◉ Supervisor: Toru Miyazaki
Representative Director, AIM Medical Research Institute. Doctor of Medicine. With the goal of "curing incurable diseases," he achieved results as an immunologist at research institutions in Europe and America. Since discovering the unknown protein "AIM" in 1996, he has continued research on its various disease-treating effects. He has elucidated the effects of treating kidney disease not only in humans but also in cats (feline animals) and has been involved in drug development, attracting great expectations. His books include 'The Day Cats Live to 30' and co-authored 'The Shape of Science' (both from Jiji Press).
AIM Medical Research Institute: https://iamaim.jp/
▼ Prologue Sample Reading
d2535-8954-664208f5e511cc2010d7b0f56660a3f2.pdf
▼ Table of Contents
＜About Gakken Science Books＞
This is a science non-fiction series born from 'Gakken no Kagaku,' a book with experiment kits for elementary school students that has sold over 500,000 copies. It portrays current research by cool scientists in an easy-to-understand yet uncompromising way, delivering the image of researchers who struggle, fail, but never give up.
[Product Overview]
Gakken Science Books
'Research on AIM: The Story Behind the "World's First" Drug Expected to Extend Cats' Lives'
Supervised by: Toru Miyazaki (AIM Medical Research Institute, Doctor of Medicine)
Written by: Kaori Awata
Edited by: Gakken Science Editorial Department
Price: 1,760 yen (tax included)
Scheduled Release Date: June 4, 2026
Format: Shirokuban (188 x 128 mm) / 176 pages
E-book: Available
ISBN: 978-4-05-206339-8
Publisher: Gakken Co., Ltd.
Gakken Publishing Website: https://hon.gakken.jp/book/1020633900
[Click here to reserve/purchase this book]
・Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4052063392/
・Rakuten Books: https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/18591373/
・7net: https://7net.omni7.jp/detail/1107704372
■ Gakken Inc.
https://www.corp-gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Tatsuya Nanjo
・Date of Establishment: January 13, 2009 (Trade name changed on October 1, 2022)
・Capital: 50 million yen
・Address: 2-11-8 Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-8416
・Business Activities: Publishing and content business, global business, medical and nursing publishing content business, kindergarten and school business, classroom-related business, EC and online business, advertising business.
■ GAKKEN HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
https://www.gakken.co.jp/
・Representative Director and President: Hiroaki Miyahara
・Date of Establishment: March 31, 1947
・Capital: 19,817 million yen
・Sales: 199.1 billion yen, Consolidated subsidiaries: 82 companies (as of September 2025 fiscal year)