TNAX Biopharma Corporation is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of novel antibody therapeutics that address unmet medical needs of patients with intractable diseases. Scientific co-founder, Akira Shibuya, M.D., Ph.D., professor at University of Tsukuba, is a renowned scientist who has discovered unique immunoreceptors and their ligands. He has revealed that these molecules play important roles in immunity and inflammation.(>Lab Link)
Immunoreceptors and ligands
Immunoreceptors and their ligands are considered potential targets for new classes of therapeutics. TNAX Biopharma conducts joint research with University of Tsukuba and leverages intellectual property rights exclusively licensed from the university. Through drug discovery innovation and strategic alliances, TNAX continues to contribute to society by providing truly valuable therapeutic agents to patients around the world.
The first asset of TNAX Biopharma: IBD
TNAX Biopharma’s first asset, TNAX101A, was licensed to IMIDomics, Inc. and subsequently sublicensed to Formation Bio. TNAX101A has been renamed RVW101 and is being investigated in clinical study by Riverview Bio. RVW101 is an anti-DNAM-1 (CD226) antibody for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
DNAM-1 (DNAX Accessory Molecule-1), which is a co-stimulatory receptor expressed on T cells, NK cells and other immune cells, promotes effector T cell activation and cytotoxicity. In regulatory T cells (Tregs), DNAM-1 signaling may inhibit Treg stability and suppressive function. Therefore, inhibiting DNAM-1 suppresses co-stimulatory signaling and effector T cell activation, improving Treg stability and suppressive function without causing excessive immunosuppression. RVW101 is a promising novel therapeutic agent for autoimmune diseases with a low risk of serious infections.
The second asset of TNAX Biopharma: IRI
TNAX Biopharma is developing a second antibody, TNAX103, for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), which is caused by treatment of acute ischemia. In many organs, including the brain, kidneys and heart, the restoration of blood flow after ischemia itself causes new tissue damage. IRI represents a significant unmet medical need.
Cells stressed by IRI release debris named damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). DAMPs are the hub of an inflammatory domino effect: They produce diverse inflammatory cytokines and activate multiple inflammatory pathways. This inflammatory domino effect induced by DAMPs is the primary cause of futile recanalization in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). Novel drugs capable of rapidly and efficiently inhibiting the release of DAMPs could become promising therapeutic approaches for AIS and CSA-AKI without suppressing infectious inflammation.
Most current drugs in development target improving blood flow or neutralizing inflammatory molecules “downstream” of the inflammatory domino effect, but the expected clinical effects have not yet been achieved. TNAX103, which is under development by TNAX Biopharma, rapidly and efficiently inhibits the release of DAMPs that trigger the inflammatory domino effect, thereby halting the runaway DAMPs “upstream” and preventing IRI from progressing to inflammation.
Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS)
In the US, 800,000 people suffer from acute ischemic stroke (AIS), with more than 600,000 new cases. AIS accounts for 40% of bedridden patients. Recanalization therapy such as endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is an established treatment for AIS caused by large vessel occlusion, and the success rate of recanalization using EVT techniques has been reported to be between 80% and 90%. However, 30% to 60% of patients experience futile recanalization, resulting in moderate-to-severe disability or death despite successful technical treatment. IRI is the leading cause of futile recanalization, and the treatment of IRI is essential for recovery from post-stroke disability in AIS patients.
Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (CSA-AKI)
IRI is the leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI can be lethal, and progression to end stage renal disease (ESRD) and the transition from AKI to CKD are very serious clinical problems. Complete recovery of renal function from AKI is extremely rare. Patients who suffer from ischemic heart diseases such angina pectoris often undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgeries. On-pump CABG induces IRI resulting in cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI). Approximately 270,000 CABG surgeries are performed in the US alone each year, and CSA-AKI often occurs. Currently, however, there are no effective pharmacological therapies to prevent or treat CSA-AKI. CABG is a high-margin procedures for hospitals, but the occurrence of CSA-AKI is a major profit pressure for hospitals. As a result, safe and effective intervention of CSA-AKI, which is a serious complication of CABG, is required.
News
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TNAX Biopharma has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Chime Biologics, a Chinese CDMO.
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TNAX Biopharma and the University of Tsukuba Announce a New Drug for Acute Kidney Injury, and Subsequent Chronic Organ Failure
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A first-in-class anti-DNAM-1 mAb originated from University of Tsukuba and TNAX Biopharma has been licensed from our partner, IMIDomics, to Formation Bio.
Leadership Team
Tak Mukohira, R.Ph., SM in MOT, CEO & Co-founder
Tak Mukohira has been CEO of TNAX Biopharma since its establishment in March 2018. He has extensive contacts in the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. Prior to launching TNAX, Tak was deeply involved in business development, corporate planning and venture capital operations at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma (MTP). Mr. Mukohira also served as President of MP Healthcare Venture Management Inc., the corporate venture capital arm of MTP, headquartered in Boston, and as a board member and observer for several biotech companies based in the US and Europe. He earned his SM in MOT from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BS in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Kyoto University.
Akira Shibuya, M.D.,Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer & Co-founder
Akira Shibuya is Professor, University of Tsukuba and a world-famous immunologist. Dr. Shibuya had 12 years’ experience as a clinician before beginning his career in immunology research career as a post-doctoral fellow at DNAX Research Institute at Palo Alto, California. He has contributed many articles on immunoreceptors and their ligands to professional journals. Dr. Shibuya graduated from Hokkaido University Faculty of Medicine and earned an M.D. He holds a Ph.D. from University of Tsukuba.
Ichimaro Yamada, Ph.D., General Manager, R&D & Board Director
Ichimaro Yamada has 40-year broad and in-depth experience in drug research & development in Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation and other biotech/pharma companies. He led a Japanese development team of telaprevir and won new drug approval. Dr. Yamada is a vice-president of Association for Promoting Drug Development (APDD). Ichimaro earned his Ph.D. from Kumamoto University.