AERONEXT and JFRONTIER Enter Strategic Partnership Following Japan’s Revised Medical Care Act

-Aiming to Build Japan’s First^*1 Integrated Aerial Healthcare Infrastructure Combining Telemedicine and Drone-Based Medicine Delivery through the “Medical Drone Depot” Concept-

　Aeronext Inc. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President & Group CEO: Keisuke Toji; hereinafter “Aeronext”) and J Frontier Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsuhiro Nakamura; “J Frontier”) today announced that they have entered into a strategic partnership following the revision of Japan’s Medical Care Act in April 2026.

　The partnership aims to jointly develop a new Medical Drone Depot model that integrates telemedicine with drone logistics and to establish an Aerial Healthcare Infrastructure that supports regional healthcare from the sky.

　Under the partnership, Aeronext’s New Smart Logistics SkyHub^TM*2 platform and J Frontier’s SOKUYAKU^*3 online medical consultation and online medication guidance service will be integrated to create a seamless regional healthcare model connecting telemedicine, online medication guidance, and drone-based medicine delivery.

　This initiative will help ensure equitable access to healthcare services for people living in medically underserved areas, including mountainous regions and remote islands. It also aims to establish a resilient regional healthcare infrastructure that supports everyday healthcare while maintaining pharmaceutical transportation during emergencies and natural disasters.

　The integrated Medical Drone Depot model—combining telemedicine facilities with drone logistics to deliver prescription medicines by drone—is expected to be the first initiative of its kind in Japan.

Background and Objectives

　Following the revision of Japan’s Medical Care Act in April 2026, efforts to modernize regional healthcare through digital technologies have accelerated nationwide. At the same time, regional communities continue to face growing challenges, including physician shortages, limited access to pharmacies, and a declining healthcare workforce, particularly in rural and remote areas.

　While telemedicine and online medication guidance have significantly improved access to medical consultations, ensuring that prescribed medicines reliably reach patients—the “last mile” of healthcare delivery—remains a critical challenge.

　To address this issue, Aeronext and J Frontier will combine SkyHub^TM, Aeronext’s New Smart Logistics platform already being deployed across Japan, with J Frontier’s SOKUYAKU digital healthcare platform to create a new regional healthcare infrastructure that seamlessly integrates consultation, prescription, and medicine delivery.

　As part of the initiative, the companies will jointly establish Medical Drone Depots, new regional healthcare hubs that combine telemedicine consultation facilities with Drone Depot^TM logistics hubs, creating a sustainable healthcare delivery model that provides equitable medical access regardless of location.

Overview of the Strategic Partnership

1. Agreement Date　　July 27, 2026

2. Scope of Collaboration

The two companies will jointly pursue the following initiatives:

（１）Development of Medical Drone Depots
　Expand AERONEXT’s nationwide Drone Depot ^TM network into regional healthcare hubs capable of providing one-stop services encompassing medical consultation, prescription, and medicine delivery

（２）Integration of Telemedicine and Drone Delivery
　Jointly develop a service model that combines telemedicine with drone-based delivery of prescription medicines, reducing patient waiting times, minimizing travel burdens, and shortening the time required to receive medications.

（３）Development of Regional Healthcare Infrastructure
　Build a regional healthcare logistics network by leveraging the SkyHub^TM platform in collaboration with local governments, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and logistics operators.

（４）Medical Logistics During Emergencies
　Utilize the drone logistics network operated in normal times to ensure the continued transportation of medicines during disasters, road disruptions, and other emergencies.

（５）Expansion into New Healthcare Services
　Extend the platform beyond pharmaceutical delivery to include specimen transportation, medical equipment delivery, home healthcare support, and other services that strengthen regional healthcare.

3. Shared Vision

　This partnership is not simply about adding drone delivery to telemedicine.

　Rather, it represents a new approach to regional healthcare inspired by Japan’s revised Medical Care Act, establishing Medical Drone Depots—a new generation of healthcare hubs that integrate telemedicine facilities with Drone Depot^TM logistics infrastructure—and deploying them nationwide as part of a next-generation healthcare network.

　By combining J Frontier’s digital healthcare platform with Aeronext’s aerial logistics infrastructure, the partnership will create a seamless healthcare delivery model that integrates consultation, prescription, and medicine delivery.

　J Frontier’s SOKUYAKU platform, which provides one-stop online medical consultation, medication guidance, and pharmaceutical delivery services, received the Grand Prize at the Japan Resilience Awards 2026 in recognition of its contribution to regional healthcare digital transformation.

　Building on this achievement, the partnership will further enhance and expand the platform by integrating Aeronext’s drone logistics infrastructure, enabling healthcare services to reach communities where access has traditionally been difficult.
　
　Ultimately, the companies aim to establish a resilient regional healthcare infrastructure that ensures access to essential healthcare services during normal times while providing reliable transportation of medicines and medical supplies during emergencies, contributing to more sustainable healthcare systems and safer communities.

4. Future Plans
　The companies will begin by conducting demonstration projects and real-world deployment in regions where access to healthcare remains limited, with the goal of expanding the model nationwide based on the results.

　Beyond pharmaceutical delivery, the platform will be expanded to support specimen transportation, medical equipment delivery, home healthcare, and disaster medical response, evolving into a comprehensive Aerial Healthcare Infrastructure that supports regional healthcare as a whole.

　Looking ahead, the companies also plan to incorporate advanced technologies such as Aeronext’s AI Flight Controller^*4 and Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Multi-Drone Operation^*5, with the long-term vision of expanding this next-generation healthcare logistics platform internationally.

Comments from the Representatives

Atsuhiro Nakamura, President, J Frontier Co., Ltd.

　Japan is currently facing a number of serious social challenges, including a declining and aging population, shortages of healthcare professionals, widening regional disparities in access to medical services, and the increasing frequency of large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes and torrential rainfall. As a result, the quality and accessibility of healthcare can vary significantly depending on where people live.

　We believe that healthcare should be equally accessible to everyone. Whether in mountainous communities, remote islands, or areas isolated by disasters, people should always be able to receive the medical care they need, when they need it.

　We do not see SOKUYAKU simply as an online medical consultation service. Our vision is to evolve it into a vital social infrastructure—one that supports regional healthcare in everyday life while helping protect lives during emergencies. This belief has guided our business from the very beginning.

　Our partnership with Aeronext marks a significant step toward turning that vision into reality. By integrating telemedicine with aerial logistics infrastructure, we will create a new healthcare delivery model capable of reliably providing both medical consultations and prescription medicines to communities where healthcare access has traditionally been limited.

　Our goal is not merely to improve convenience. It is to create a society where no one has to forgo essential healthcare because of where they live or the circumstances they face. Furthermore, we are committed to helping build a nation where healthcare never stops—even in times of disaster.

　Together with local governments, healthcare providers, pharmacies, and many other partners, we will accelerate the real-world deployment of a new regional healthcare infrastructure originating in Japan and help build a sustainable healthcare system that future generations can be proud of.

　We are committed to delivering a future in which more people can truly feel, “I’m glad I was born in this country,” by bringing better healthcare to communities—from the sky.

Keisuke Toji, President & Group CEO, Aeronext Inc.

　We are delighted to enter into this strategic partnership with J Frontier to realize the Medical Drone Depot, a new model of regional healthcare infrastructure.

　Through our New Smart Logistics SkyHub^TM platform, Aeronext has been improving regional logistics across Japan by utilizing drone technology. Our vision extends beyond logistics efficiency—we are building new social infrastructure that connects people, goods, and services through low-altitude airspace to help solve regional challenges.

　Through this partnership, we will integrate J Frontier’s SOKUYAKU platform with our drone logistics network to create a seamless healthcare model connecting consultation, prescription, and medicine delivery. We aim to build a resilient regional healthcare infrastructure that ensures access to essential healthcare services in everyday life while enabling the rapid and reliable delivery of medicines and medical supplies during emergencies.

　Looking ahead, we will leverage AI technologies and Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Multi-Drone Operation to expand beyond pharmaceutical delivery into specimen transportation, home healthcare, and disaster medicine, accelerating the real-world deployment of a new Japan-originated regional healthcare infrastructure.

【For inquiries from the press regarding this news release】

Aeronext Inc. PR Dept. (Contact: Ito)
Tel: +81-3-6455-0626　Email: aeronext_pr@aeronext.com

J Frontier Co., Ltd. PR Office（Contact：Onodera）
Tel: 03-6427-4662　Email: pr-info@jfrontier.jp

Reference

*1　 First in Japan
　Based on research conducted by Aeronext as of July 27, 2026.

*2  New Smart Logistics SkyHub^TM
　SkyHub^TM is a New Smart Logistics platform that consolidates shipments from multiple logistics providers at a central Drone Depot^TM hub, where deliveries are efficiently coordinated using both ground vehicles and drones.

　By optimizing and streamlining regional logistics, SkyHub^TM helps build sustainable social infrastructure while contributing to labor savings, carbon reduction, and long-term logistics resilience. The platform also addresses regional challenges such as limited access to shopping and healthcare services, as well as disaster response.

　SkyHub^TM has already been deployed in multiple regions across Japan and continues to expand as a sustainable, phase-free regional logistics infrastructure that supports both everyday logistics and emergency transportation during disasters.

*3  SOKUYAKU Online Medication Guidance Service
　SOKUYAKU is an online healthcare platform that enables patients to complete the entire healthcare journey—from medical consultation and medication guidance to receiving prescription medicines—using a smartphone or tablet from home, the workplace, or virtually anywhere.

　Following an online consultation with a physician, patients receive online medication guidance from a pharmacist. Prescribed medicines can then be delivered directly to their homes or collected at a nearby pharmacy, with same-day pickup available in eligible areas.

　For healthcare providers, SOKUYAKU also offers integrated functions such as appointment management, digital medical questionnaires, and online payment, enabling efficient implementation with minimal additional investment.

　In addition, SOKUYAKU is increasingly being utilized as a phase-free healthcare infrastructure that can function as an alternative medical access platform during disasters and infectious disease outbreaks. Because the same telemedicine platform used in everyday healthcare can continue operating during emergencies, it helps maintain access to medical services and ensures the uninterrupted delivery of prescription medicines.

*4 AI Flight Controller
　A next-generation flight control system that incorporates artificial intelligence technologies, including deep learning, to optimize the attitude and flight speed of drones and other aircraft in real time based on sensor data.

*5  Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Multi-Drone Operation
　A technology that enables a single operator to simultaneously monitor and control multiple unmanned vehicles—including drones, autonomous delivery robots, and unmanned surface vessels—from a remote monitoring and control center.

【About J Frontier Co., Ltd.】

Guided by its corporate philosophy, “Making People and Society Healthier and More Beautiful,” J Frontier is committed to advancing healthcare, promoting public health, and contributing to the development of society.

The company strives to support healthcare professionals, patients, and public healthcare systems while helping people lead healthier and happier lives. Through innovative digital healthcare services, JFRONTIER aims to create a society where anyone can access medical care and receive prescription medicines anytime, anywhere, 365 days a year, with safety and peace of mind.

*Company profile:https://jfrontier.jp/company/profile/

【About Aeronext Inc.】

Guided by its mission, “Creating a world where prosperity reaches every corner through new social infrastructure for the 100-year life era,” Aeronext is pioneering the development of next-generation social infrastructure utilizing low-altitude airspace.

In addition to its technology licensing business and joint development projects centered on its proprietary 4D GRAVITY^TM center-of-gravity control technology, the company operates SkyHub^TM, a New Smart Logistics platform that integrates and optimizes regional logistics, as well as drone operation services through its strategic subsidiary, NEXT DELIVERY Inc. SkyHub^TM has already been deployed in multiple regions across Japan and continues to expand as a sustainable, phase-free regional logistics infrastructure that supports both everyday logistics and emergency transportation during disasters.

Building on the Simultaneous Remote Autonomous Multi-Drone Operation technologies developed through its logistics business, Aeronext is also advancing the real-world deployment of Physical AI.  The company is expanding its AI modules across a wide range of industries—including logistics, agriculture, infrastructure inspection, disaster response, and security—while developing a platform capable of seamlessly integrating and controlling diverse drones and robotic systems.

*Company profile: https://aeronext.com/about/company/

*Aeronext and the Aeronext logo, NEXT DELIVERY, “4D GRAVITY^TM“, “SkyHub^TM” and “Drone Depot^TM” are trademarks of Aeronext Inc. *Other company and product names mentioned in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.