Tokyo, Japan – January 31, 2025 – Neusignal Therapeutics, Inc., a Tokyo-based company focused on commercializing early-stage drug discovery from Tohoku University, today announced the successful completion of its Series A funding round, raising ¥1.15 billion through a third-party allocation of shares to the investors listed below. Combined with a ¥1.1 billion grant from AMED’s Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem (FY2023), which supports the growth of innovative drug discovery ventures, the total funding secured in this round amounts to ¥2.25 billion.
Investors (in no particular order):
New investors:
FFG Venture Business Partners Co., Ltd. (FVP), Nippon Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (NVCC)
Existing investors:
Fast Track Initiative, Inc. (FTI), Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc. (KII), Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (MUCAP), Mizuho Capital, Co., Ltd. (Mizuho C), SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (SMBC VC)
Background
Neusignal Therapeutics, a startup focused on commercializing early-stage drug discovery from Tohoku University, is dedicated to developing drug candidate compounds. The company is committed to pioneering groundbreaking treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, an escalating health challenge worldwide, and improving the lives of patients and their families.
In recent years, the emergence of new drugs showing promise in slowing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease has raised expectations. However, there are ongoing debates surrounding the challenges of treatment management, high medical costs, and the appropriateness of target patients based on risk-benefit profiles. Neusignal Therapeutics believes its development candidate has the potential to be a breakthrough treatment that addresses these challenges. The company is committed to realizing this treatment and ensuring it reaches the patients and families who eagerly await it.
Purpose and use of funds
Neusignal Therapeutics will utilize the newly raised funds to provide candidate compounds for the investigator-initiated Phase 1 clinical trial in humans, which is scheduled to begin soon. In addition, the company will prepare for a Phase 1b company-sponsored clinical trial planned for the U.S., conduct safety studies, and recruit personnel, as well as carrying out subsequent company-sponsored clinical trials.
Comments from Investors
Makoto Takeuchi, Executive Vice President, Fast Track Initiative, Inc. (FTI):
“Since our initial investment in Neusignal Therapeutics in September 2022 from FTI Fund III, we have primarily supported the development of NTX-083. We are delighted to congratulate Neusignal Therapeutics on achieving a total of ¥2.25 billion in Series A funding, including a ¥1.1 billion grant from the Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem. This is a remarkable achievement. We sincerely hope that this will accelerate the clinical development of their novel small molecule compound, not only in Japan but globally, leading to its swift market launch and reaching patients as soon as possible. We will continue collaborating with other investors to provide maximum support to the company.”
Yuto Torii, DVM, MBA, Principal, Keio Innovation Initiative, Inc. (KII):
“Efforts by Neusignal Therapeutics to address Alzheimer’s disease, where there is still a significant unmet medical need, have the potential to create a substantial and wide-reaching impact. This includes not only improving patient satisfaction with treatment and reducing the burden on families but also addressing national challenges from a health economics perspective. With human trials now underway, KII will continue to support the growth of Neusignal Therapeutics even more robustly as a united team.”
Mikihiko Shinozaki, Ph.D., Deputy General Manager, Investment Department for Life Science, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. (MUCAP):
“We are delighted to have made an additional investment in Neusignal Therapeutics from the Mitsubishi UFJ Life Science Fund IV. We continue to highly value the company’s efforts to combat Alzheimer’s disease, a central nervous system disorder, using small molecule drugs. As they enter clinical trials, they are reaching a crucial phase. We will continue supporting their growth, helping them become a company that can deliver new medicines to patients suffering from central nervous system disorders worldwide as quickly as possible.”
Keisuke Omori, DVM, Ph.D., Investment Manager, Investment Department III, Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd. (Mizuho C)
“The small molecule compound being developed by Neusignal Therapeutics is a highly unique and innovative drug candidate among the many Alzheimer’s disease treatments under development worldwide. Since the previous fundraising round, talented new members have joined, making the path to commencing domestic clinical trials and U.S. development much clearer. We highly respect the company for advancing research and development daily with a strong commitment to delivering the drug to patients and their families suffering from the disease as soon as possible. We are honored to have supported this funding round. Together with the excellent team led by CEO Yoshida and Dr. Moriguchi, Mizuho Group will continue to provide full support.”
Masakazu Komahashi, Department Manager, Investment Sales Department 3, SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (SMBC VC):
“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to provide additional support. As you know, while new antibody drugs for Alzheimer’s disease have been approved, the area still has significant unmet medical needs. The Neusignal Therapeutics development candidate has a different mechanism of action from existing approved drugs, and we believe it has the potential to be a game-changer in Alzheimer’s disease treatment if successful. Developing for this challenging disease area is difficult. But with Phase 1 on the horizon, we believe that the day it reaches patients is drawing closer. We will continue to provide our utmost support, however small, towards addressing this societal challenge.”
Yuto Furumi, Manager, Investment Department, FFG Venture Business Partners Co., Ltd. (FVP):
“With this investment, we are very pleased to join the wonderful team at Neusignal Therapeutics in their challenge of groundbreaking drug discovery. We believe that this development candidate, as a small molecule compound with a novel mechanism of action, has the potential to become a first-line treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, an area with high unmet medical need. We sincerely hope that this development candidate will contribute globally as a solution to societal challenges, such as improving the quality of life for many patients suffering from the disease and their families, reducing economic losses due to caregiving burdens, and addressing high medical costs. We will provide our utmost support.”
Sayuri Okamoto, Venture Capitalist, Investment Division, Nippon Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (NVCC):
“We are very pleased to join Neusignal Therapeutics and many other investors in the effort to develop a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. In this field, where unmet medical needs remain high and new treatments are urgently needed, we have high expectations that this development candidate, with its unique mechanism of action, will offer a new treatment option for patients. NVCC is committed to providing our full support to Neusignal Therapeutics as it dedicates its research and development efforts to delivering this treatment to patients.”
Company overview
Established: April 2022
Location: 3-11-5 Nihonbashi Honcho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0023, Japan
Representative Director: Yoshifumi Yoshida
Business activities: Research and development of treatments for dementia and psychiatric disorders, exploration of early-stage drug discovery for brain diseases
Website: https://neusignal-tx.com/
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