07.29.2022
Cellshoot Therapeutics (CEO: Hiroshi Tanaka; Headquarters: Koto, Tokyo, Japan; hereinafter referred to as ‘Cellshoot’) raised a total of 230M JPY in its recent seed round to develop groundbreaking cell analysis technology for new drug discovery. In addition to existing investor, Fast Track Initiative (hereinafter referred to as ‘FTI’), new underwriters include Kyoto University Innovation Capital (KYOTO-iCAP), Sakyo Ward, and SMBC Venture Capital. With this recent investment round, the cumulative amount of funds raised since its establishment has reached approximately 380M JPY. FTI members Hiromichi Kimura (CEO) and Makoto Takeuchi (Executive Vice President) have been appointed as external BoDs, and Shogo Kato (Associate) has been appointed as an Auditor.
In recent years, it has become a growing issue for pharmaceutical companies to acquire target molecules with high disease relevance that serve as sites of action for pharmaceuticals. With the funding in this round, Cellshoot plans to further strengthen its researching to improve its innovative platform technology PLOM-CON (Protein Localization and Modification-based Covariation Network) analysis method and semi-intact cell resealing technology. Its technology makes it possible to elucidate the complex molecular networks in cells and obtain new drug discovery target molecules.
The research is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Masayuki Murata, Specially Appointed Professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, Cellular Engineering Research Center, Institute of Innovative Research (IRR). Dr. Fumi Kano, Associate Professor, also contributes as a technical advisor.
FTI has been supporting Cellshoot since before its establishment, watching its team develop groundbreaking drug discovery target molecules as they maximize on its drug discovery platform technology. FTI will continue to focus on the biotech and pharmaceutical fields which interlinks science to life, and to the HealthTech field, which aims to realize a better life, in order to realize “Capital For Life”.
About Cellshoot Therapeutics:
Cellshoot Therapeutics is a biotech startup founded in 2021 from the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The company is exploring drug discovery target molecules and creates new drug candidates by utilizing the technology of intracellular protein pathway analysis. Based on its innovative platform technology PLOM-CON (Protein Localization and Modification-based Covariation Network) analysis method and semi-intact cell resealing technology established by Dr. Masayuki Murata, professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, it is made possible to elucidate the complex molecular networks in cells and acquire novel drug discovery target molecules. Go to https://cellshoot.co.jp/ for more details.
About Fast Track Initiative:
Established in 2004, Fast Track Initiative, Inc. (FTI) is a life science venture capital firm focusing its investments on grow seed and early-stage startups with a strong focus on biotech and therapeutics. FTI has a strict mission to make a ground-breaking impact on the quality of our life and human wellness through investments across a broad range of areas in the life science community including diagnostics, digital health, healthcare services, and more. The company provides full, hands-on operational support to its 30+ portfolio companies through business and R&D strategy, investor syndication, and more, including access to its exclusive network of leading industry professionals in Japan. Visit https://us.fasttrackinitiative.com for more details, or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fast-track-initiative/. For press inquiries or investor inquiries, please email: message.us@fasttrackinitiative.com.
