Osaka University Venture Capital was among the investors in a series D round for Kyorin University-founded cancer treatment developer J-Pharma.
J-Pharma, a Japan-based drug development spinout of Kyorin University, has raised ¥1.8bn ($16.3m) in a series D round involving university venturing unit Osaka University Venture Capital.
Spera Pharma, a chemistry, manufacturing and controls subsidiary of drug and medical supplies producer Iwaki Group, also backed the round alongside Mizuho Capital and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, respective VC arms of financial services firms Mizuho Bank and financial services firm Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group.
Drug manufacturer Ohara Pharmaceutical also contributed alongside research services provider KNC Laboratories and Iwagin Jigyo Souzou Capital, an affiliate of regional banking firm Bank of Iwate, in addition to Sansei Capital, part of insurer Taiji Life, life sciences personnel recruitment firm SRD Holdings and specialist materials firm Kisco.
The deal was rounded off by biomedicine-focused venture fund Newton Biocapital I, QB Capital, MBL Venture Capital, Nippon Venture Capital and KSP Corporation.
Founded in 2005, J-Pharma has assembled a portfolio of drug candidates that target membrane transporters, proteins that control how external ions and molecules enter into cells.
J-Pharma’s lead program targets the L-type amino acid transporter (LAT1) to address tumour cells in advanced cancer patients who did not improve with standard chemotherapy.
The pipeline includes JPH203 for refractory advanced biliary tract cancer, which inhibits an amino acid-binding LAT1 pocket implicated in cancerous cells consuming vast quantities of energy.
Other drug candidates in J-Pharma’s portfolio include OKY-034 for refractory advanced pancreatic cancer, and LAT1 inhibitors in development for autoimmune diseases.
The funding will go to clinical studies aimed at verifying LAT1’s efficacy, while Iwaki Group and Ohari Pharmaceutical will look to support J-Pharma’s commercialisation strategy.
J-Pharma has not disclosed full details of earlier funding, aside from a round of undisclosed size in early 2018 that featured Iwagin Jigyo Souzou Capital.
