Surv BioPharma

Surv BioPharma, established in August 2022, is a biopharmaceutical venture that originated from Kagoshima University in Japan. The company was founded by Professor Ken-ichiro Kosai, who serves as the Executive Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer, to commercialize the therapeutic virus technologies he developed. Masaki Yamada, who has over 35 years of experience in pharmaceutical R&D, is the President and Representative Director. The firm's core focus is the research and development of oncolytic viruses and in-vivo gene therapies to address unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology.

The company's primary technology is a proprietary platform for creating conditionally-replicating adenoviruses (m-CRA) that are engineered to selectively target and destroy cancer cells while leaving normal cells unharmed. This is achieved by using the promoter for a protein called survivin, which is highly expressed in most cancer cells but virtually absent in normal tissue. This specificity makes the treatment effective against highly malignant cancers and is expected to have minimal side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Its lead pipeline candidate, Surv.m-CRA-1, is an oncolytic virus being developed for intractable cancers, including malignant bone tumors. The company is also developing therapies for liver disease and diabetes.

Surv BioPharma's business model is centered on conducting in-house nonclinical studies and early-stage clinical development to establish proof-of-concept for its drug candidates. After this stage, the company plans to generate revenue by out-licensing the therapeutic viruses to major pharmaceutical companies. This model includes lump-sum payments, milestone payments, and post-marketing royalties. The company has secured significant funding, including a JPY 1 billion agreement in December 2022 and a JPY 1.5 billion Series B first close to accelerate non-clinical and overseas clinical development.

Keywords: oncolytic virus, gene therapy, adenovirus, cancer therapy, survivin promoter, m-CRA technology, biopharmaceutical, drug discovery, Kagoshima University, clinical development, out-licensing, bone tumors, cancer stem cells, targeted therapy, immuno-oncology, adenoviral vectors, bioventure