J-Pharma

About J-Pharma

J-Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company established in December 2005 by Hitoshi Endou, MD., Ph.D., a former professor at Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine. The company's genesis is rooted in Dr. Endou's extensive research on membrane transporters, which began in 1993 and led to the identification of the L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in 1998 as a cancer-specific protein. In June 2020, Dr. Endou transitioned from his role as Chairman & Representative Director to become the Founder & Fellow, focusing on guiding the company's basic research.

The company's core business revolves around developing drugs that target solute carrier (SLC) transporters to address unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology and autoimmune diseases. J-Pharma's primary strategy is to inhibit LAT1, which is overexpressed in many cancer cells and is crucial for their rapid growth by supplying them with essential amino acids. This "starve-out" strategy aims to induce cancer cell apoptosis. The business model involves in-house research and development, strategic in-licensing of compounds, and out-licensing approved drugs for marketing and distribution. For example, J-Pharma has an agreement with Ohara Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for the approval and marketing of its lead compound in Japan and Asia. The company operates as a private entity and has secured funding from a diverse group of investors, including JIC Venture Growth Investments, Eight Roads Ventures Japan, and Newton Biocapital. In October 2023, J-Pharma established a U.S. subsidiary to manage its global development, regulatory, and intellectual property strategies.

J-Pharma's lead product candidate is nanvuranlat (also known as JPH203), a first-in-class LAT1 inhibitor. This small molecule is being developed for patients with advanced solid tumors who have not responded to standard treatments. Nanvuranlat completed a Phase 2 study for biliary tract cancer (BTC) monotherapy in 2022, and the results were presented at major oncology conferences in 2023. The drug has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S. FDA for BTC, and the company is preparing for a global Phase 3 study. The company is also exploring the potential of nanvuranlat for other cancers like colorectal and renal cell carcinoma. Another key asset in the pipeline is JPH034, an allosteric LAT1 inhibitor in-licensed from Osaka University and KNC Laboratories, which is being developed for progressive multiple sclerosis. J-Pharma's pipeline also includes PET diagnostic agents targeting LAT1.