#Japan #Kyoto #Shinobi Therapeutics #Dr. Laurent Fischer #iPSC therapies

Shinobi Therapeutics Welcomes Dr. Laurent Fischer as Chair of the Board

In an exciting development for the field of biotechnology, Shinobi Therapeutics announced today the appointment of Dr. Laurent Fischer as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. With over three decades of experience in spearheading innovative biotech companies, Dr. Fischer is set to play a crucial role in advancing Shinobi's unique immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies toward clinical applications.

A Proven Track Record

Dr. Fischer's extensive background includes leading numerous companies that successfully developed and commercialized breakthrough therapies. Notably, he has been integral to the sale of Jennerex Biotherapeutics to SillaJen and led Tobira Therapeutics through its IPO before a significant acquisition by Allergan for $1.7 billion. His leadership journey continued as he chaired CTI BioPharma during the approval and launch of Vonjo™, which was later sold to SOBI for the same impressive $1.7 billion. Most recently, he facilitated the acquisition of Adverum Biotechnologies by Eli Lilly, a transaction that completed in October 2025, marking a pivotal moment in gene therapy advancement for wet AMD.

Dr. Fischer's ability to navigate complex biotech landscapes has garnered him prestigious positions across various boards. He currently holds directorships with Lycia Therapeutics, Mirum Pharmaceuticals, and AtaiBeckley, among others. His past roles include chairing Tobira Therapeutics and serving as a senior advisor for Frazier Healthcare Partners, reflecting his substantial influence in the biotech sector.

Shinobi's Pipeline and Future Aspirations

Shinobi Therapeutics is well-positioned to benefit from Dr. Fischer's expertise as the company gears up to present its first public data at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) Annual Meeting from November 5 to 9, 2025, in National Harbor, Maryland. The company is set to reveal findings from its research titled, “Systemic and regionally infused iPSC-Derived CD8 αβ T Cells Mediate Tumor Killing via TCR- and Innate Receptor-Dependent Mechanisms Enhanced by Cytokine Armoring”, on November 8th. This presentation is expected to stir considerable interest within the scientific community, showcasing Shinobi's innovative approaches to cancer treatment.

The company has recently achieved important financing milestones, securing a strong Series A funding round and a substantial $71 million non-dilutive grant from the Japanese Government’s AMED program. This financial backing enables Shinobi to continue progressing on two promising therapies: NJA-001, which is an iPSC-T cell therapy targeting GPC3 for solid tumors, and NJA-201, an iPSC-NK cell therapy focused on CD19 for treating autoimmune diseases. The Katana platform further enhances their capability for rapid pipeline expansion, making Shinobi a key player to watch in oncology and autoimmune interventions.

Dr. Fischer's Vision for Shinobi

Reflecting on his new role at Shinobi Therapeutics, Dr. Fischer expressed enthusiasm about the company’s potential. He remarked, “Following the recent acquisition of Adverum, I’m excited to turn my focus to Shinobi Therapeutics to help lead advancement of the company's promising immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapy programs. Combining the ability to overcome traditional cell therapy cost and access barriers with a re-dosable, predictable, and potent treatment could transform the way we care for cancer and autoimmune patients.” His vision aligns perfectly with Shinobi's mission to democratize access to life-saving therapies while addressing significant clinical and commercial hurdles faced by conventional cell therapies.

Shinobi Therapeutics, established on the groundbreaking research by scientific co-founders Shin Kaneko, M.D., Ph.D., and Tobias Deuse, M.D., is committed to developing a new class of patient and physician-friendly immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies. Dr. Fischer's leadership is anticipated to catalyze significant advancements in the field, making substantial contributions to the future landscape of treatment options for patients suffering from cancer and autoimmune diseases worldwide.