#AbbVie #Neko Pharma #Jiksak Bioengineering

AbbVie Japan Innovation Award Winners Announced

AbbVie Japan, in an exciting announcement today, has revealed the winners of the AbbVie Japan Innovation Award for 2023. This prestigious award, co-hosted with BioLabs, aims to support promising biotech companies and academic institutions in Japan. Out of 26 applications, Neko Pharma Co., Ltd. has emerged as the winner, receiving a Golden Ticket along with a cash prize of 10 million yen.

Background of AbbVie Japan Innovation Award

The AbbVie Japan Innovation Award is designed to foster innovation in major therapeutic areas including immune diseases, cancer, mental and neurological disorders, eye care, obesity, and aesthetic medicine. Selection was made after a thorough review process, which included presentations from four finalists.

Winner: Neko Pharma Co., Ltd.

Neko Pharma is a startup that utilizes a high-thermal-stability protein scaffold platform derived from bacteria found in volcanic environments. Remarkably, they have created a library that features diverse sequences comparable to antibody drugs, despite having a significantly smaller molecular weight. This groundbreaking approach holds potential for various applications in the future. As part of their recognition, Neko Pharma will receive:

• - A Golden Ticket granting one year of free access to a cutting-edge incubator facility set to open in New Kiba by BioLabs in 2026.
• - Access to essential research equipment, services, entrepreneurship programs, and a community of researchers within the facility.
• - Mentorship support from AbbVie’s internal experts in R&D and business.

Special Award: Jiksak Bioengineering Co., Ltd.

The competition also introduced a special award called the