Nanotechnology-based drug delivery startup Braizon Therapeutics raises ¥645 million．

  • Nanotechnology-based drug delivery startup Braizon Therapeutics raises ¥645 million．

Braizon Therapeutics, Inc. (Location: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan; Representative Director: Mariko Tosu, hereinafter referred to as Braizon) proudly announces that it has secured 645 million yen through third party allotment of shares to three venture capital companies, including two new investors.
Braizon is developing innovative nanotechnologies that break through the blood brain barrier, currently the greatest impediment to treating central nervous system diseases such as dementia (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease), and can deliver drugs to the brain with unprecedented efficiency. The funds raised at this time will enable Braizon to promote it’s R&D in earnest, set up an R&D center in the United States as a part of Braizon’s business expansion, and promote joint development with domestic and overseas pharmaceutical collaborators in both the public and private sectors.

Purpose of financing

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is an cellular road-block between circulating blood and brain tissue, which selectively allows only the passage of nutrients essential for brain activity to cross the cerebrovascular endothelial cells. By restricting the passage of chemicals into the central nervous system, the BBB limits the delivery of therapeutic drugs to the brain, adding extreme difficultly to the development of medicines for brain diseases. Therefore, technology for drug delivery to the brain is attracting attention as a breakthrough technology for pharmaceutical companies worldwide that focus on central nervous system diseases. Braizon’s technology utilizes a unique mechanism that causes the brain to selectively take up drugs encapsulated within glucose labeled nanoparticles (nanomachines) with high efficiency, across the BBB, and into the brain via control of blood glucose levels. As these nanomachines can encapsulate a variety of therapeutic compounds (including nucleic acid medicines, antibodies, and low-molecular weight compounds), Braizon’s technology may deliver medicines to the brain that previously would not have been considered possible.

The funds procured during this round are primarily allocated for
1) promotion of full-scale research and development,
2) expansion of the nanomachine supply system,
3) establishment of overseas R&D facilities for the acceleration of international expansion and collaboration with Japanese and overseas pharmaceutical companies.
These focus points are designed to rapidly strengthen Braizon’s development system, enabling worldwide delivery of new medicines to people suffering from central nervous system diseases as soon as possible.

Overview of Underwriters

  • UTokyo Innovation Platform Co., Ltd.
    (Head Office: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo. Representative Director: Katsuhiko Oizumi)
  • Fast Track Initiative, Inc.
    (Headquarters: Hongo, Bunkyo-ku Tokyo. Representative Director: Hiromichi Kimura)
  • SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
    (Head office: Yaesu, Chuo-ku, Tokyo. President: Tatsufumi Ishibashi)

About Braizon

Business Outline
Research and development, licensing and delivery of drugs, diagnostic agents, research reagents etc. targeting the central nervous system
Establishment
October 2015
Location
Sanyu Building 201, 42-1 Hongo 3-Chome, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo
Representative
Director Mariko Tosu
URL
http://braizon.com/

For inquiries about this matter

Braizon Therapeutics, Inc.
Philip Davy
Senior Manager of Business Development
Business Development Department
Email: pdavy@braizon.com
Phone:+81-80-4598-4205