#Japan #Tokyo #Celaid Therapeutics #CLD-001 #Hematopoietic Stem Cells

Celaid Therapeutics Secures Funding for Innovative HSC Therapy

Celaid Therapeutics Inc., a pioneering biotech company, has just announced an impressive milestone in its funding journey, having successfully raised 1.055 billion JPY (approximately 7.2 million USD) in the first close of its Series B financing round. This round saw participation from notable venture capital firms as well as the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). With this latest capital influx, Celaid’s total funding has now exceeded 2.52 billion JPY (around 17.14 million USD), including various grants and subsidies.

The financing is a testament to the promising advancements made by Celaid in its lead clinical program, CLD-001, which represents an innovative ex vivo-expanded hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) therapy targeted at treating severe pediatric non-malignant diseases. This groundbreaking approach not only highlights the company's commitment to addressing critical healthcare needs but also emphasizes its evolving collaborations with leading global pharmaceutical and biotech firms that seek to leverage Celaid's proprietary platform technology.

Progress on CLD-001 Development

Recent updates on CLD-001 reveal positive non-clinical research results demonstrating its efficacy and safety in animal models. The company has achieved significant advancements in the production processes involved in HSC manufacturing, a vital step in the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls (CMC) field, as well as effectively preparing for the pre-Investigational New Drug (IND) application with the U.S. FDA.

Simultaneously, Celaid has enhanced its collaborative research efforts, particularly with AGC Inc., focusing on the expansion and functional evaluation of induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (iPSC-HSPCs). The company is engaging with various undisclosed global pharma and biotech companies for ongoing evaluations of its HSC expansion platform, an endeavor crucial for future therapeutic applications.

Allocation of Raised Capital

The capital raised during this financing round will primarily be directed towards ramping up Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) manufacturing and conducting further non-clinical studies to prepare for initiating clinical trials of CLD-001 in the United States. Additionally, Celaid aims to strengthen its proprietary HSC expansion platform and broaden its application across various cell and gene therapy programs.

Nobuyuki Arakawa, President and CEO of Celaid, expressed deep appreciation for the continued backing from their venture capital partners and AMED, stating, “This financing represents an important milestone that brings us closer to delivering transformative hematopoietic stem cell therapies to patients worldwide.” Arakawa further highlighted Celaid's commitment to advancing both its pipeline and platform business.

Overview of the Series B Financing

In the first close of the Series B financing, Celaid raised approximately 555 million JPY (3.77 million USD) through third-party allocation of new shares via private placement. Esteemed investors in this round included:

• - Osaka University Venture Capital Co., Ltd.
• - The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners Co., Ltd.
• - Techno Science Co., Ltd.
• - Joyo Capital Partners Co., Ltd.

Moreover, the company was awarded a grant of approximately 500 million JPY (3.4 million USD) from AMED, specifically aimed at enhancing Japan's pharmaceutical startup ecosystem.

Investor Insights

Feedback from investors has been overwhelmingly positive. Yuki Taga, Investment Director at Osaka University Venture Capital, noted the milestone achievements Celaid has made in the past year, including collaborations with both domestic and global partners, thereby marking significant steps in the industry.

Atsushi Usami, a Ph.D. and Board Director at the University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, emphasized Celaid's continuous advancement within the clinical and manufacturing realms, especially the collaborations that have propelled business growth.

Shigeto Ikeda, President of Joyo Capital Partners, echoed similar sentiments, acknowledging Celaid's progress in developing novel cell therapies for complex diseases, which are still often neglected.

Understanding Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs)

Hematopoietic stem cells hold the unique ability to generate all blood cell types and are integral to treatments for severe blood diseases. However, these cells are scarce in donation, presenting a significant challenge for therapeutic applications. The CLD-001 program aims to address these challenges directly.

About Celaid Therapeutics Inc.

Celaid Therapeutics, a promising startup emerging from the University of Tokyo and University of Tsukuba, has developed proprietary methods for selectively expanding hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo. The company is committed to revolutionizing treatments for hematologic and genetic diseases through its innovative cell and gene therapy products.

As Celaid continues to pave the way for advancements in HSC therapies, the potential for transforming care for patients with critical blood disorders remains ambitious and promising.