Published 03 Sep 2021

Japanese Startup Markets: Drug Discovery

Japanese Startup Markets: Drug Discovery

Our new round of articles is devoted to promising Japanese startups grouped by industry. Today, our focus is on the Drug Discovery.

1. Megakaryon 


http://www.megakaryon.com/


・Year Founded: 2011


・Total Raised to Date: $28.0M


・Overview


Developing blood products that produce high-quality platelets and erythrocytes from iPS cell lines, providing planned and stable supply that does not depend on blood donation, which is highly safe, and have low medical costs.




2. MODULUS 


https://modulusdiscovery.com/


・Year Founded: 2016


・Total Raised to Date: $27.1M


・Overview


Unique drug discovery platform, researching and developing small molecule therapeutics with strengths in core biology, which is important for life and diseases.




3. Noile-Immune Biotech


https://www.noile-immune.com/


・Year Founded: 2015


・Total Raised to Date: $9.99M


・Overview


Developing next-generation immunotherapy centered on "CAR-T therapy," which is an immunotherapy that uses the patient's own immune system.




4. Timewell Medical


https://www.fabp.jp/


・Year Founded: 2019


・Total Raised to Date: $9.5M


・Overview


Developing vitro diagnostic agent "L-FABP" for renal diseases.




5. METCELA


https://www.metcela.com/


・Year Founded: 2016


・Total Raised to Date: $9.25M


・Overview


Researching and developing cell therapy using fibroblasts for heart failure, creating "MTC001", a combination product that combines autologous cardiac fibroblasts (VCAM1-positive cardiac fibroblasts) and a new catheter for administration.




6. Luxna Biotech


https://luxnabiotech.co.jp/


・Year Founded: 2017


・Total Raised to Date: $6.5M


・Overview


Developing patent licensing business for modified nucleic acid technology, drug discovery joint research and development business with pharmaceutical companies and bio-ventures, drug development business based on seeds obtained from academia disease research, and nucleic acid drug development support business (CMC support consultation).




7. FIMECS


https://www.fimecs.com/


・Year Founded: 2018


・Total Raised to Date: $5.49M


・Overview


Developing multiple First-in-class new drugs targeting proteins related to cancer diseases, which have been considered undruggable, based on the unique E3 ligase binding molecule and drug discovery basic technology "RaPPIDS" Advance the program.



8. MiraBiologics


https://www.mirabiologics.com/


・Year Founded: 2017


・Total Raised to Date: $5.49M


・Overview


Developing and providing next-generation multifunctional biopharmacy (neobiologics) and biopharmacy utilizing RaPID selection technology and Lasso Graft Technology.




9. Rin Institute


https://rinmab.co.jp/


・Year Founded: 2016


・Total Raised to Date: $3.64M


・Overview


Developing cancer diagnostic and therapeutic agents using several new antibody seeds (colorectal cancer-specific antibody, blood coagulation antibody, etc.).




10. Rege Nephro


https://www.regenephro.co.jp/


・Year Founded: 2019


・Total Raised to Date: $3.59M


・Overview


Researching and developing therapeutic agents for renal diseases using iPS cells.




11. Vermilion Therapeutics


https://www.vermilion-tx.com/


・Year Founded: 2019


・Total Raised to Date: $2.52M


・Overview


Researching and developing therapeutic drug candidate compounds for Alzheimer's dementia, and research and development of other preclinical studies.