Desire to offer drugs that make it possible to be reborn for patients suffering from rare genetic diseases and their families as early as possible

Reborna Biosciences, Inc. (“Reborna”) is a drug discovery venture business carved out from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The company name Reborna is a combination of the words reborn and RNA (ribonucleic acid), which is a basic component of life.
Its core technology is a proprietary drug discovery platform, and the company aims to contribute to society through development of drugs based on low-molecular compounds that act directly on the target RNA, a method deemed impossible to achieve with existing techniques. We spoke with CEO and COO Koji Fuji on how the company was created and its relationship with Mitsubishi UFJ Capital (“MUCAP”).

Our Science

—Drug discovery technology

Background

—Desire to feel my research becoming a business, and making social contribution

I joined Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited in 2005, and was engaged in research of various diseases including cardiovascular, central nervous system, and inflammation primarily in the field of medicinal chemistry.
In 2013, I got an opportunity to work at Takeda San Diego (U.S.) and witnessed the ecosystem of bio-ventures in the U.S. Researchers and investors form a team to drive forward a business and create new technologies and drugs. I experienced its dynamism on site in real time. It made me realize that what I wanted to achieve is to convert my research into business, and feel the business contribute to society with the entire team working together.
It was about that time, when I was having such a wish in my mind, that Takeda announced a program to support venture businesses to be carved out of the company in 2016. I pondered whether I should continue and gain more experience at Takeda or give up stability and take on the challenge to realize my dream. At that time, someone whom I trust and had met through my job suggested that I meet a person in charge at MUCAP.

The role of Mitsubishi UFJ Capital

—Partner with whom we will create a drug discovery ecosystem in Japan

Soon after we met, questions from various angles were thrown at me. Why I want to start a company. What is that I want to achieve. Mr. Shimasaki in charge at MUCAP drew out ideas from me about things I had never thought deeply until then. And, this encounter was the trigger that made me change direction significantly towards starting a venture company. “I will definitely support you. Let’s work hard together,” Mr. Shimasaki said with passion, after closely listening to what I had to say. His words gave me huge confidence. I felt that the vague plan that I was incubating in my mind was recognized by someone outside for the first time.
I still remember Mr. Shimasaki’s words very clearly. “I will support you with all my might, and you have to succeed. Then you hand over the achievement to people who are following you and then I would like you to take on another new challenge. MUCAP will support you afresh then,” he said. He meant that he wanted me to succeed with a venture based on a completely new concept, pass it on to the next generation, and then create a new business to contribute to Japan’s drug discovery ecosystem. It was a great encouragement for me.
Mr. Shimasaki himself has been engaged in drug discovery research both in Japan and abroad. It is because he knows the good qualities of Japan, he wanted to somehow change the situation where drug discovery in Japan lags significantly behind that of the U.S. and Europe. So, he changed course and became a venture capitalist after coming back to Japan. I believe that is why he deeply understood my passion. It was a surprise for me to see a person like Mr. Shimasaki in a venture capital. That also illustrated MUCAP’s depth as a venture capital.

Advancing business together with Mitsubishi UFJ Capital

—Keep thinking what is necessary for Reborna from there on

Once we decided to start the business with seven research team members at Takeda, I was in contact with MUCAP almost every day and proceeded with the preparation. It was the first time also for Takeda Pharmaceutical to support a venture being carved out of itself and I was an amateur regarding starting a business. It would not be too much to say that nothing went smoothly given the large number of involved parties. Something unexpected happened just before the establishment and I was losing heart. At that time, Mr. Shimasaki not only thoroughly explained the situation within MUCAP so that it would make an investment according to the initial plan but also continued to support me also from a mental aspect. I cannot thank him enough.
Depending on the VC, there are various ways to support a business after making an investment, and MUCAP continues to support us as a team. I feel that Mr. Shimasaki and Ms. Sekiya think and act as part of the Reborna team by trying hard and leveraging their respective field of expertise. I don’t consider them as an external investor, either. I rather feel that we share the same views and they are fellow soldiers. We even now bring information and opinions from our respective viewpoints regarding matters ranging from overall company policy to recruitment and advancing the business in teamwork. Moreover, MUCAP has been introducing us to functions necessary for Reborna’s growth such as global pharmaceutical manufacturers that can be the counterpart of business development and MUFG group companies.

Future perspective

—Drive forward the business with a sense of speed so as to see the happy faces of patients suffering from rare genetic diseases and their families

Currently, one of the main projects Reborna is working on is research and development of a potential therapeutic drug for spinal muscular atrophy. While it had been a common practice to target proteins such as enzymes and receptors in treating the disease, which is caused by abnormalities in the protein produced by RNA, we directly target RNA. The strength of our technology is that we are technically proving that low-molecular drugs can target RNA, which used to be targeted only by macromolecular drugs. Macromolecular drugs can be administered only by visiting a hospital and using injection, but low-molecular drugs can be administered orally at home. It is obvious that daily oral administration after meal at home improves patients’ quality of life.
Since our inception in 2018, we have been receiving support from MUCAP for not only funds but also business, thanks to which our business is advancing at a faster pace compared with the initial plan. I believe we are the first penguin that made to the world as a bio-venture from a pharmaceutical company. Just like my enthusiasm was stirred by witnessing the ecosystem of the U.S. ventures, I want to change Japanese life science ventures so that researchers who are coming after us will feel that they also want to build drug discovery ecosystem from Japan. I am sure this will also mean repaying MUCAP for being the first in raising their hand when we really had nothing to show and providing unstinted support thereafter to us.

Interviewed in December 2019

Company

Reborna Biosciences, Inc.
https://rebornabiosciences.com/EN/

Primary business activities

Research and development of drug discovery program for agents that have shown an innovative therapeutic effect with RNA function modification for rare genetic diseases

Company History