FELIQS

FELIQS Corporation is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, established in Fukuoka, Japan in 2019, with a presence in New York, USA. The firm is developing small molecule therapeutics aimed at treating rare pediatric retinal diseases by targeting oxidized lipids. The company's foundation is built upon scientific research from the department of pharmaceutical science at Kyushu University, focusing on ferroptosis, a type of cell death caused by the accumulation of oxidized lipids. FELIQS was co-founded by Dr. Ken-ichiro (Nobu) Kuninobu, who serves as CEO and has over 15 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, and Dr. Ken-ichi Yamada, the inventor of the company's core technology.

The company's business model is centered on the research and development of a portfolio of drug candidates. In July 2025, FELIQS announced the completion of a $9 million Series A financing round. This funding was co-led by a major American pharmaceutical company and Beyond Next Ventures Inc., with participation from the Japan Science and Technology Agency and existing investors like Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and Keio Innovation Initiative. The proceeds are intended to accelerate the clinical development of its lead candidate, expand its clinical and operational teams, and enhance research collaborations in the U.S.

FELIQS's drug discovery platform targets lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis. The lead candidate, FLQ-101, is being developed for the prevention of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), a major cause of blindness in premature infants. FLQ-101 is a once-daily oral or intravenous solution designed to promote normal retinal vessel growth while protecting against inflammation and abnormal neovascularization. In 2024, the U.S. FDA granted FLQ-101 both Fast Track and Orphan Drug designations. A Phase 1b/2 clinical trial, named tROPhy-1, is scheduled to start in the United States in the summer of 2025. The company's second candidate, FLQ-105, is a proprietary inhibitor of lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis for the early treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and is expected to enter Phase 1 studies in 2026.

Keywords: Retinopathy of Prematurity, Age-related Macular Degeneration, lipid peroxidation, ferroptosis inhibitor, small molecule therapeutics, pediatric retinal diseases, ophthalmology drug development, clinical-stage biotech, FLQ-101, FLQ-105, Ken-ichiro Kuninobu, Kyushu University, rare diseases, orphan drug, ocular disease, retinal vascularization, neuroprotection, clinical trials, Series A funding, Beyond Next Ventures