12.01.2023
Tokyo, Japan – The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), the medical funding agency in Japan, recently announced the selection of two of FTI’s portfolio companies, Shinobi Therapeutics and Neusignal Therapeutics, for the “Drug Venture Ecosystem Strengthening Initiative” funding program. Through this funding, AMED will support therapeutic startups across diverse fields such as oncology, metabolic diseases, mental and neurological disorders, geriatric medicine, pediatrics, and more, in their early-stage clinical trials. This program, which started in 2022, provides significant non-dilutive funding support to startups that are invested in by pre-certified venture capital firms. FTI is a certified VC.
Shinobi Therapeutics was selected by AMED for its groundbreaking work in pioneering immune evasive iPS cell therapies to treat cancer and other diseases. Their innovative technology shields against various immune responses, enabling off-the-shelf, redosable treatments. The Katana platform facilitates rapid pipeline expansion with CARs or TCRs, aiming for faster, cheaper, and more effective patient outcomes. Shinobi focuses on solid tumors and plans to expand into autoimmune diseases and diabetes, showcasing their versatility and forward-thinking approach.
Meanwhile, the research project led by Neusignal Therapeutics aims to develop NTX-083, a small molecule inhibitor targeting K-ATP channels for treating Alzheimer’s disease. This selection underscores the project’s potential and Neusignal’s innovative approach in addressing Alzheimer’s through advanced therapeutic development.
FTI is committed to supporting these companies and programs funded by AMED, which aim to improve patient outcomes and address unmet medical needs across a wide range of diseases, enhancing the landscape of medical research and development.
For more details on the initiative and the selected projects, please visit AMED’s official announcement.
About Shinobi Therapeutics
Shinobi Therapeutics is a biotechnology company developing a new class of off-the-shelf immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies. Based on the research of scientific co-founders Shin Kaneko, M.D., Ph.D., at Kyoto University and Tobias Deuse, M.D., at University of California, San Francisco, Shinobi has created a new allogeneic CD8ab iPS-T cell platform that demonstrates comprehensive immune evasion from all arms of the immune system. For more information, please visit www.shinobitx.com.
About Neusignal Therapeutics
Neusignal Therapeutics is dedicated to developing groundbreaking treatments for central nervous system (CNS) disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. Founded in 2022 and based in Tokyo, Japan, our mission is to enhance the quality of life for those suffering from CNS diseases through innovative drug development. Leveraging our team’s extensive experience and unique insights into signal networks, we collaborate with global pharmaceutical companies and research institutions to pioneer next-generation therapies that address unmet medical needs.
For more information, visit https://neusignal-tx.com/
About AMED:
AMED, the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, is a crucial governmental entity dedicated to advancing Japan’s medical research and development. It oversees the strategic management and integration of government funds for medical innovation, spanning basic research to practical application. Specifically, AMED’s Practical Application Promotion Department and its Research Results Deployment Promotion Division are tasked with the Drug Discovery Venture Ecosystem Strengthening Project, aimed at expediting the development of medical technologies and therapies. For inquiries related to this project, please contact via email at v-eco@amed.go.jp, ensuring to include the necessary contact details in the body of your email. For more information, visit https://www.amed.go.jp/
About Fast Track Initiative
Established in 2004, Fast Track Initiative, Inc. (FTI) is a life science venture capital firm focusing its investments on 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 therapeutics, diagnostics, digital health, healthcare services, and more. The company provides valuable, hands-on support to its 30+ portfolio companies through business and R&D strategy, partnering, investor syndication, and more, including access to its network of professionals in Japan. Visit https://us.fasttrackinitiative.com for more details, or follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fast-track-initiative/
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