News

JIC Venture Growth Investments has acquired the shares in GAIA BioMedicine, Co., Ltd. (GAIA), through its JIC Venture Growth Fund 2.

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GAIA is a clinical stage biotech company established in 2015 based on the research of Prof. Yoshikazu Yonemitsu at Kyushu University, aiming for the social implementation of cancer immunotherapy using their originally defined natural killer (NK)-like cells. Its lead candidate, GAIA-102, is currently undergoing clinical development with refractory/relapsed neuroblastoma, a pediatric rare solid tumor, as the initial target indication. Especially in Japan, treatment options for pediatric rare malignancies are very limited, and the development of new effective therapies is highly desired. GAIA-102 has also shown significant antitumor activity in other clinical trials including peritoneal dissemination with malignant ascites (gastric and pancreatic cancers), a terminal stage of patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. These preliminary clinical data suggest that GAIA-102 has the potential to be applied to a wide range of cancer types because it possesses multiple sensors for various molecular groups specifically expressed by cancer cells.

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The significance of this investment is to support research and development at GAIA and aim to provide new treatment options for those suffering from advanced and intractable malignancies. Since there are still unmet medical needs in cancer treatment, it is also expected to contribute to the realization of a healthy and long-lived society.

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With this investment, VGI will accelerate the social implementation of cancer drugs and contribute to the activation of venture ecosystem through support for biotech originating from Japanese universities.

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_{The information contained in this notice is current at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.}

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