K Pharma

About K Pharma

K Pharma Inc. is a Japanese biotechnology company established in November 2016 as a spin-off from Keio University School of Medicine. The company was founded by Professor Hideyuki Okano of the Department of Physiology and Professor Masaya Nakamura of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, along with President and CEO Komei Fukushima, to translate their extensive research into practical applications. Mr. Fukushima brings 26 years of experience from Eisai, where he was involved in research and development, before joining Keio University School of Medicine. K Pharma focuses on addressing unmet medical needs in the field of central nervous system (CNS) disorders.

The firm operates through two primary business segments: iPS drug discovery and regenerative medicine. Its core technological strength lies in the ability to induce the differentiation of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into various nerve cells. In its iPS drug discovery arm, K Pharma creates disease-specific iPS cells from patient samples to develop disease models for research, drug screening, and elucidating pathological mechanisms. The company utilizes a drug repositioning strategy, which involves screening existing drugs for efficacy against different diseases, aiming to accelerate the development of new treatments. A key project in this area is the development of ropinirole hydrochloride, a treatment candidate for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

The regenerative medicine business centers on developing treatments for neurological damage, such as spinal cord injuries (SCI) and cerebral infarctions, by transplanting neuronal progenitor cells derived from iPS cells. The lead pipeline candidate, "KP8011," targets subacute spinal cord injuries. The company collaborates closely with Keio University and other institutions to enhance the efficiency of its clinical trials and drug discovery processes. K Pharma's business model involves entering into joint research and license agreements with partners like pharmaceutical companies. This generates revenue through upfront payments and milestone-based income corresponding to development progress. Having gone public, the company is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.