10.06.2022
Metagen Therapeutics (President and CEO: Taku Nakahara, PhD, MBA; Headquarters: Yamagata, Japan; hereinafter referred to as “MGTx”) raised a total of 140M JPY in its Pre-Series A Funding round. The company is developing multiple pipelines for gastrointestinal diseases and immune system disorders through its cutting-edge microbiome science. Investors including Fast Track Initiative (hereinafter referred to as “FTI”), JAFCO Group, and Keio Innovation Initiative. Takashi Futami, Principal of FTI, is appointed as an external BoD member.
The funds in this round will be used to launch an ‘intestinal microbiota bank’ for the social implementation of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation (FMT) and R&D of the intestinal microbiota drug discovery program. FMT is a unique treatment method performed in many countries that improves intestinal microbiome abnormalities, or dysbiosis, by transplantation. Microbiome transplantation is currently being recognized in the United States and Europe to improve dysbiosis which is commonly associated with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which affects the lives of many people around the world.
In the past year, MGTx has been accelerating its exploratory research on intestinal microbiome and its symbiotic relationship with various diseases such as cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. As drug discovery research based on FMT progresses, MGTx has partnered with top academic institutions including Juntendo University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Keio University to promote ‘FMT-based reverse translational drug discovery’. Normally, drug discovery is carried out by translational research aiming for practical use as a drug, based on the results of scientific research. MGTx’s ‘FMT-based reverse translational drug discovery’ focuses on the practical application of drugs to proceed its development with a higher probability of safety and efficacy than usual.
FTI leads this funding round as an existing investor. FTI sees great value in MGTx’s innovative approach on drug discovery as the company focuses on intestinal microbiota whose safety and efficacy have been confirmed in advance by FMT, and is backed by a strong microbiome science team in Japan working rigorously behind these innovative studies.
About Metagen Therapeutics:
Metagen Therapeutics (MGTx) is a university-launched venture business based out of Yamagata, Japan. The company was founded in 2020 with the mission of “continuing to fulfill the wishes of patients through microbiome science”. MGTx aims to create social impact through medical care and drug discovery based on intestinal microbiome research to address various gastrointestinal and immune system disorders. The company is led by top researchers in microbiome science from academic institutions Juntendo University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Keio University. For more information, go to https://www.metagentx.com or follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/metagentx/. For press inquiries or investor inquiries, please email: pr@metagentx.com.
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 their 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
