At Morunda, we believe in shining a light on the innovators shaping the future of healthcare. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Vishal Kapoor, Country Manager of Prospection Japan, about his career journey, Prospection’s work in Japan, and the evolving role of AI in the pharmaceutical industry.
From Global Experience to Prospection Japan
Vishal has spent over 15 years working across the US, India, Singapore, Australia, and now Japan, always at the intersection of analytics, data science, and healthcare.
His career has mirrored the evolution of the industry itself—from traditional analytics to machine learning, and now the AI era. That passion for data-driven impact led him to Prospection, a global healthcare technology company using real-world patient data and AI to help get the right patients on the right treatments at the right time.
Prospection’s Journey in Japan
Prospection entered Japan about five years ago, initially through a client connection in Australia. Since then, the company has taken a thoughtful, long-term approach to building its presence—investing in local partnerships, adapting its technology to Japanese needs, and assembling a strong local team.
“Japan has one of the richest healthcare data environments in the world,” Vishal explained. “But driving meaningful impact here requires patience, adaptability, and deep collaboration.”
Making Sense of Patient Data
Prospection specializes in patient-level claims data, offering a lens into treatment journeys rather than just sales figures.
Their technology processes large volumes of data, enriches it with clinical context, and turns it into insights that help pharma and healthcare organizations answer key questions:
- How do patients progress through treatment?
- Which therapies work best in real-world settings?
- Where do unmet needs remain?
AI Adoption in Japan: Rigor Over Hype
When it comes to AI, Vishal highlighted two key observations:
- From Curiosity to Action – Pharma companies in Japan are moving from exploring AI to actively applying it in areas such as launch strategies and real-world evidence generation.
- Thoughtful Adoption – Unlike other markets where speed is prioritized, Japan values precision, transparency, and clinical credibility.
“Explainable AI is critical,” Vishal noted. “It’s not about hype—it’s about trust, and ensuring solutions make sense in a clinical context.”
Looking Ahead: The Future of AI in Healthcare
Over the next three to five years, Vishal predicts:
- Greater availability of patient data from diverse sources.
- Increased experimentation with AI solutions.
- Closer collaboration with academia to validate and strengthen clinical credibility.
Real-world success stories, he believes, will be the catalyst for widespread adoption.
A Career at Prospection
For candidates considering their next move, Vishal shared why Prospection Japan is an exciting place to be:
“If you want to shape the future of healthcare, work globally while building locally, and value curiosity, collaboration, and courage—Prospection is the place to grow.”
He emphasized that courage is vital in healthcare innovation. “You’ll hear more ‘no’s than ‘yeses.’ But courage and grit are what push us forward.”
Final Thoughts
Prospection’s story in Japan is one of global innovation meeting local commitment. By combining advanced AI with patient-level data, the company is helping healthcare organizations deliver better outcomes.
As Vishal put it: “It’s about getting the right patient on the right treatment at the right time.”
Key Takeaways
- Japan offers one of the richest healthcare data environments globally, but requires a long-term, localized approach.
- Patient-level data is more valuable than sales metrics for understanding real-world treatment outcomes.
- AI adoption in Japan is not about speed, it’s about credibility, transparency, and explainability.
- The next wave of adoption will be driven by real-world success stories and partnerships with academia.
- Prospection is building a team in Japan for those who value curiosity, collaboration, and courage.
