News Release
April 1, 2024
Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Taiho Ventures, LLC

Corporate Venture Capital Firm Taiho Ventures
Selected for AMED’s Strengthening Program for
Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem
TOKYO, Japan, and MENLO PARK, Calif. April.1, 2024 – Taiho Pharmaceutical Co.,
Ltd. and Taiho Ventures, LLC, a strategic corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Taiho
Pharmaceutical, announced today that Taiho Ventures has been selected as a certified
venture capital (certified VC) of the Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup
Ecosystem (hereafter “Program”) implemented by the Japan Agency for Medical
Research and Development (AMED) and has entered into an agreement with AMED onApril 1, 2024.
To solve the shortage of fundings for the development of new drugs, this Programsupports pharmaceutical startup for development and commercialization, provided they
secure funding from venture capital firms registered by AMED specializing in drug
development and providing hands-on business management and commercialization
support・For details about the Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem:
https://www.amed.go.jp/content/000121880.pdf

Taiho Ventures not only has one of the largest investment pool (400 million USD)
among the CVC firms of Japanese pharmaceutical companies, but also focuses ondelivering cutting-edge technologies and therapies to society by supporting
pharmaceutical startups while leveraging its experience in research and development
and business management. Since its establishment in 2016, Taiho Ventures has
invested in over 25 promising pharmaceutical startups mainly in the US and Europe,that possess innovative technologies and insights primarily in the oncology field. Theseinclude Arcus Biosciences, Cullinan Pearl, Dren Bio, Orna Therapeutics, and Werewolf
Therapeutics. In Japan, Taiho Ventures has been investing in LiberoThera since 2021.
Taiho Ventures applied for and was selected as a certified VC for the Program, with theaim of contributing to the development of Japan’s pharmaceutical startup ecosystem byleveraging its experience in supporting pharmaceutical startups.
Through the Program, Taiho Pharmaceutical and Taiho Ventures will contribute instrengthening Japan’s drug discovery ecosystem to continuously provide newtechnologies and treatment options to society.
About Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Japan)
Taiho Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings Co., Ltd.
(https://www.otsuka.com/en/), is an R&D-driven specialty pharma focusing on the fieldsof oncology and immune-related diseases. Its corporate philosophy takes the form of apledge: “We strive to improve human health and contribute to a society enriched bysmiles.” In the field of oncology, in particular, Taiho Pharmaceutical is known as aleading company in Japan for developing innovative medicines for the treatment ofcancer, a reputation that is rapidly expanding through their extensive global R&Defforts. In areas other than oncology, as well, the company creates and markets quality
products that effectively treat medical conditions and can help improve people’s qualityof life. Always putting customers first, Taiho Pharmaceutical also aims to offer
consumer healthcare products that support people’s efforts to lead fulfilling andrewarding lives. For more information about Taiho Pharmaceutical, please visit
https://www.taiho.co.jp/en/
About Taiho Ventures, LLC
Taiho Ventures, LLC is the strategic corporate venture capital arm of Taiho
Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a Japanese specialty pharma focusing on oncology, allergy
and immunology. Taiho Ventures is looking at early-stage preclinical oncology
companies as well as platform technology companies for our core therapeutic areas.
Taiho Ventures will review the wide variety of modalities for both biologics and small
molecules. The company will also consider the option type of investments and spinouts, in addition to the pure equity investments. For more information about TaihoVentures, please visit
https://www.taihoventures.com/
Inquiry about investment by Taiho Ventures
info@taihoventures.com
Yuichi Fukushima, Sakae Asanuma