On February 21, 2022 Thyas Co. Ltd., a Kyoto-based biotechnology company developing induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived immune cell therapies for cancer and infectious diseases, reported the closing of JPY 2.1B Series B financing (Press release, Thyas , FEB 21, 2022, View Source [SID1234629215]). The financing was co-led by Eight Roads Ventures Japan and F-Prime Capital Partners, the world’s leading healthcare investor group, with follow-on participation by D3 LLC, a Japanese investor specialized in the bio-healthcare field.
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Thyas, a Kyoto University spin-off, is pioneering producing iPS cell-derived T cells for the treatment of cancers and infectious diseases. In recent years, autologous CAR-T therapies have demonstrated remarkable efficacy. However, many challenges still remain for the production of sufficient numbers for clinical and commercial operations since quantity and quality of patient-derived T cells vary. Thyas’ technology, originated by Dr. Shin Kaneko, a professor at the Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Japan, makes it possible to manufacture a large number of iPSC-derived immune cells with potent cytotoxicity and large proliferative capacity, which demonstrate significant efficacy and persistency in vivo. The therapeutic benefits are expected to be treating patients with no/few or exhausted immune cells, breaking through an immunosuppressive microenvironment with large numbers of immune cells, and completely removing cancer cells. Thyas is one of a few companies in the world that successfully established robust differentiation technologies to generate potent CD8ab expressing killer T cells, which have strong avidity to target tumor cells and enhanced migratory activities into tumor cites.
Proceeds from the financing will support the continuing development of iPSC-derived killer T cells, iPSCderived CAR-NK cells recently-added to its portfolio of product candidates, and other exploratory-stage iPSC-derived immune cells. Thyas also initiates development of the next generation products from hypoimmunogenic iPSC. The financing and other supports from F-Prime and Eight Roads will also enable Thyas to expand its team to support the company’s future growth, including establishment of operations in the U.S.A, where Thyas seeks candidates of executives, Sr./Jr. scientists, medical experts, and other experts in the field. Meanwhile, the Kyoto site continues to expand its R&D capacities. F-Prime and Eight Roads will give Thyas strategic advices for the company’s growth and proactive support for syndicating next financing rounds.
"We are gratified to share with this exceptional investor group our vision that we bring the novel cell therapies to patients to cure solid cancers," said Yasumichi Hitoshi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Thyas. "With help from F-Prime and Eight Roads, we can leverage the most advanced iPSC-to-immune cell differentiation technologies stemmed from our geographical advantages, i.e. Kyoto University, the Mecca of iPS Cell research, and combine them with the world’s topmost biotech infrastructure and a talent pool in the U.S.A. We are going to be a genuine international company."