New Immuno-Cell Therapy] Mitsubishi UFJ Capital additionally invests in Gaia Biomedicine, a developer of "other home NK-like cells.

About Gaia Biomedicine, Inc. and Developed Products

(Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kazuyuki Kuramori) is a Kyushu University venture company that is developing a new cancer immuno-cell therapy based on the research results of Professor Yoshikazu Yonemitsu of the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University.
GAIA-102 is a genetically engineered T cell that has been developed to enhance the ability to attack cancer cells without genetic modification or transduction manipulation. GAIA-102 is expected to be a more promising cancer immuno-cell therapy for solid tumors than other cellular drugs such as CAR-T. GAIA-102 also has a competitive advantage in terms of commercial use because of its extremely simple manufacturing and dosing process compared to other cellular therapeutics.
A notification of clinical trial has already been submitted to the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and a 30-day investigation has been completed, and a Phase 1/2 clinical trial for non-small cell lung cancer will begin this year.

Investment Background

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has been investing in GAIA Biomedicine as a lead investor since the Series A investment in January 2020. Recently, Gaia Biomedicine has completed the originally planned manufacturing process and non-clinical testing of GAIA-102, and has advanced to the stage where clinical trials can be conducted, and has therefore made an additional investment in Series B along with some existing shareholders. The funds raised will be used to confirm the safety and efficacy of GAIA-102 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, a type of solid tumor that is difficult to treat with conventional cancer immuno-cell therapy, through Phase I/II clinical trials in humans for the first time. Mitsubishi UFJ Capital intends to continue to support Gaia Biomedicine's business growth by making full use of MUFG's network.

About Gaia Biomedicine Inc.

About Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.

Since its establishment in 1974, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital has invested in a wide range of industries, providing industry-leading expertise as the venture capital arm of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. The company has a top-class track record in the industry, with approximately 900 IPOs across a wide range of industries.

In the life science field, after the establishment of the Life Science Office in 2009, we began providing funding and management support to bio ventures in Japan and overseas on a full-scale basis. In February 2019, Mitsubishi UFJ Life Science No. 2 Investment Limited Partnership (10 billion yen) was formed, and in June 2020, MUFG Medical Fund (10 billion yen) was formed to support venture companies involved in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, and other fields, including measures against new coronary infections. In June 2020, the company formed the MUFG Medical Fund (10 billion yen) to support venture companies involved in drug discovery, regenerative medicine, etc., including those fighting new coronary infections. In addition to bio-venture investments, the company is also focusing on academia drug discovery, pharmaceutical company carve-out deals, investments in pharmaceutical company development projects, and medical device-related investments.

■About Mitsubishi UFJ Life Science No. 2 Investment Limited Partnership

Investment Target:
Focus on investment activities in pharmaceutical company-originated and domestic academia drug discovery
-Regenerative Medicine Products
-Medical devices, etc.
-Diagnostics and diagnostic equipment

Unlimited liability partner:Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.

Investors:The Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.

Date of establishment:February 20, 2019

Total Fund Amount:10 billion yen