On March 15, 2021 US-based biotech company VLP Therapeutics, Inc. (VLPT) reported on March 15 that it has raised US$16 million in a Series A funding round from MIYAKO Capital Co., Ltd., Sojitz Corporation, Konishiyasu Co., Ltd., in Japan and three existing investors in the US (Mr. Robert G. Hisaoka, SK Impact Fund, LLC, and RJ Fund, LLC) for research and development of a cancer treatment vaccine (Press release, VLP Therapeutics, MAR 15, 2021, View Source [SID1234576617]). With this funding, VLPT aims to accelerate the project well underway in the US and move into clinical trials at the earliest date possible.

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"I have a high hope for VLP Therapeutics to become a leading company with its innovative platform technologies in the fields of infectious diseases and cancer, deep-rooted with CEO Wataru Akahata’s continuing commitment to virus and vaccine research and extensive experience of clinical trials," says Dr. Hiroyuki Misawa, director and partner of MIYAKO Capital Co., Ltd. "It is my great pleasure to back up, as a shareholder, a biotech company with such advanced technologies."

VLPT aims to further the project in the US and get the green light to clinical trials at the earliest date possible.

"I am optimistic that the innovative vaccines now being developed at VLP Therapeutics will make a significant contribution to the treatment of cancer, the prevention of malaria and dengue fever, and the fight against new threats such as COVID-19. In turn, I believe this will improve health and well-being for all and advance the development of medicine," says Masayoshi Fujimoto, president and CEO of Sojitz Corporation. "We, Sojitz Corporation, are very pleased to work with VLPT CEO Wataru Akahata, an ambitious scientist with considerable experience in vaccine R&D, as well as with the members of the research team and the company founders who are well-versed in pharmaceutical development. We will do whatever we can to help VLPT grow going forward."

"Since its inception over 190 years ago, we, Koshishiyasu, have been devoted to making the world a better place through the sales of industrial chemicals. It is therefore our great honor to invest in the cancer treatment vaccine R&D underway at VLP Therapeutics, which is also combating malaria and Covid-19 with its novel technologies," says Toshiyuki Konishi, president and CEO of Konishiyasu Co., Ltd. "We are confident that, by financially supporting VLPT, we can contribute to the well-being of society, and they will make further progress in their vaccine R&D efforts."