News

JIC Venture Growth Investments (VGI) has acquired the shares in PRD Therapeutics, Co., Ltd. (PRD Therapeutics), through its JIC Venture Growth Fund 2 (VGF2).

PRD Therapeutics is a bio-venture established in 2021 based on the research results of Kitasato University and Kitasato Research Institute, aiming for the social implementation of lipid metabolism control drugs. PRD Therapeutics is currently conducting research and development of a first-in-class oral small molecule, PRD001. Although several lipid metabolism regulators have already been approved, there is a need for new drugs for familial hypercholesterolemia homozygous (HoFH)*, a rare genetic disorder for which existing drugs are ineffective, and for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and non-alcoholic fatty lipid disease (NAFLD), for which there are still no drugs for treatment. PRD Therapeutics aims to improve the quality of life of people suffering from these diseases through the commercialization of novel lipid metabolism medicines.

The significance of this investment is to support research and development at PRD Therapeutics with the aim of providing new treatments for HoFH, a designated incurable disease. Since appropriate management of blood lipid levels is considered important for maintaining overall health, the expansion of indications to multiple disorders of lipid metabolism is also expected to contribute to the realization of a society with healthy longevity.

With this investment, VGI will accelerate the social implementation of pharmaceuticals in the lipid metabolism field and contribute to the activation of the venture ecosystem through support for bio-ventures originating from Japanese universities.

^{*Familial Hypercholesterolemia Homozygous: A rare disease that occurs from birth with high LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol levels in blood.}

^{The information contained in this notice is current at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.}