What Shinobi Therapeutics does

Shinobi Therapeutics is a private, preclinical-stage biotechnology company founded in December 2023 that develops off-the-shelf, immune-evasive induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cell therapies targeting solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders. The company emerged as a spinout from research conducted at Kyoto University (Shin Kaneko, CiRA) and UCSF (Tobias Deuse), with operations based in San Francisco, California and Kyoto, Japan, and a headcount of 11–50 employees. Shinobi was recognized by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in 2024 as a leader in Japan's biotech ecosystem.

The company's core technology is the proprietary Katana platform, which transforms single-donor iPSCs into therapeutic cell products using a plug-and-play architecture combining three engineered capabilities: (1) hypoimmune gene edits that protect therapeutic cells from T-cell, innate immune cell, and antibody-mediated rejection (enabling redosing and avoidance of allo-rejection); (2) armoring modifications for enhanced proliferation and potency in immunosuppressive microenvironments such as solid tumors; and (3) modular antigen-receptor specificity (TCR or CAR) that can be swapped across targets. The pipeline, designated 'NJA', comprises seven programs: lead clinical programs NJA-001 (iPS-αβ T cell targeting GPC3 for HCC, CRC, NSCLC), NJA-201 (iPS-NK cell with CD19 CAR for autoimmune disease), and NJA-301 (iPS-αβ T cell with IL13Ra2/EGFR CAR for glioblastoma), plus earlier-stage programs NJA-002 through NJA-005 covering solid tumors, autoimmune disease, and Type 1 Diabetes. IND submissions are planned for 2026 for NJA-001 and NJA-201, with NJA-301 targeting 2028.

Shinobi's business model is pre-commercial and pre-revenue, with future revenue expected to derive from commercialization (and/or out-licensing) of approved cell therapies plus potential milestone and royalty payments from collaborations. The company is funded by approximately $119 million in total capital, comprising a $51 million Series A (December 2023, co-led by EQT Life Sciences, F-Prime Capital, and Eight Roads Ventures Japan), a $59 million non-dilutive grant from Japan's AMED, and a Series A extension. Strategic partners include Panasonic Holdings (closed-system manufacturing device), Anocca AB (TCR discovery), Kyoto University/CiRA, and UCSF. Customers are not yet served commercially — the eventual patient population includes oncology patients with GPC3+ solid tumors, patients with refractory autoimmune disease, and Type 1 Diabetes patients, with the value proposition centered on off-the-shelf dosing, redose capability, and avoidance of immune rejection relative to autologous CAR-T.

Name

Shinobi Therapeutics

Legal name

Shinobi Therapeutics Inc.

Website

https://shinobitx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Shinobi Therapeutics is a private, preclinical biotech developing off-the-shelf immune-evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies for solid tumors, autoimmune diseases, and Type 1 diabetes using its Katana platform, with operations in San Francisco and Kyoto.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cell Therapy Biopharmaceuticals

NAICS

Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Stem Cell Therapies (MSC/iPSC/HSC-derived) (HLAAABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cell Therapy Enabling Technologies (gene editing, cell engineering, delivery methods) (HLAAABAL), Immunology & Autoimmune Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAB)

Keywords

• IPSC cell therapies
• Immuno-oncology therapeutics
• Allogeneic cell therapy
• Hypoimmune technology
• Regenerative medicine

Headquarters

HQ city

South San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. iPSC-derived cell therapies: Pre-revenue biotech company developing off-the-shelf immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies for oncology and autoimmune applications. Revenue generation expected upon regulatory approval and commercialization of therapies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shinobi Therapeutics develops off-the-shelf immune-evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies for oncology and autoimmune diseases using its proprietary Katana platform. The platform transforms iPSCs into therapeutic cells engineered to evade the immune system, recognize specific antigens, and attack target cells, enabling allogeneic re-dosable treatments for solid tumors (GPC3+), autoimmune disorders, and Type 1 Diabetes.

Product overview

Shinobi Therapeutics develops a portfolio of off-the-shelf immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies using its proprietary Katana platform. The platform enables transformation of iPSCs into therapeutic cells with plug-and-play antigen specificity, engineered to evade the immune system and attack target cells. The company pipeline, designated 'NJA' (Japanese term for ninja), includes multiple clinical programs: NJA-001 (iPS-αβ T cell for GPC3+ solid tumors), NJA-201 (iPS-NK cell for autoimmune diseases), NJA-301 (iPS-αβ T cell for glioblastoma), plus earlier-stage programs NJA-002 through NJA-005 targeting various cancers and Type 1 Diabetes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NJA-001 iPS-αβ T cell therapy targeting GPC3 TCR for treatment of GPC3+ solid tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), colorectal cancer (CRC), and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Currently in preclinical development with IND submission planned for 2026.
• NJA-201 iPS-NK cell therapy targeting CD19 CAR for treatment of autoimmune diseases. Currently in preclinical development with IND submission planned for 2026.
• NJA-301 iPS-αβ T cell therapy with IL13Ra2 and EGFR CAR targeting for glioblastoma treatment. Currently in preclinical stage with IND planned for 2028.
• Katana Platform Plug-and-play technology platform that transforms iPSCs into cell therapies with engineered immune evasion, plug-and-play antigen specificity, and armoring for enhanced proliferation and potency against hostile microenvironments such as immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments.
• NJA-002 CD8αβ T cell program with undisclosed TCR targeting for treatment of solid tumors. Currently in discovery/preclinical stage.
• NJA-003 CD8αβ T cell program targeting GPC3+ HLA-A2 solid tumors. Currently in discovery stage.
• NJA-004 CD8αβ T cell program with undisclosed CAR targeting autoimmune diseases. Currently in discovery/preclinical stage.
• NJA-005 iPS-derived pancreatic beta cell program targeting Type 1 Diabetes. Currently in discovery stage.

Quantifiable outcome

• iPSC market projected to grow from $1.9B in 2024 to $5.1B by 2034 at 10.3% CAGR

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Anocca ABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 May 2024Strategic partnership to develop allogeneic TCR-T cell therapies in oncology. Combines Shinobi's hypoimmune iPSC platform with Anocca's systematic TCR discovery capabilities to unlock the landscape of TCR-T targets for solid tumor treatments.
• Panasonic Holdings CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2024Strategic partnership to develop efficient and cost-effective iPS cell therapy manufacturing technology. Panasonic is creating a closed-system manufacturing device based on Shinobi's iPS-T cell platform and cutting-edge research at Kyoto University. Partnership aims to significantly broaden accessibility of cell therapies to patients globally through reduced production time and costs. First phase expected to complete April 2025.
• Kyoto UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and technology origin. Scientific co-founder Shin Kaneko's research at Kyoto University's Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) forms the foundation of Shinobi's technology. Licensed technology from Kyoto University.
• University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner and technology origin. Scientific co-founder Tobias Deuse's research at UCSF on immune evasion technology. Licensed technology from UCSF.
• CiRA (Center for iPS Cell Research and Application)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on iPS cell production and cultivation device development with Panasonic. CiRA's expertise in iPSC research pioneered by Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka supports the manufacturing platform development.
• Ki ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator in Japan's biotech ecosystem supporting advancement of immune evasive iPSC-derived cell therapies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Nkarta: Focused on allogeneic NK cell therapies for oncology and autoimmune, overlapping with Shinobi's NJA-201 NK program and broader cell therapy approach.
• Adicet Bio: Develops allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies including CAR-T candidates for oncology and autoimmune; comparable cell type and indication overlap with Shinobi's T-cell pipeline.

Broad incumbents

• Allogene Therapeutics: Largest publicly-traded allogeneic CAR-T developer with multiple clinical-stage programs; competes with Shinobi in allogeneic cell therapy for oncology but does not use iPSC source material.
• Caribou Biosciences: Clinical-stage allogeneic CAR-T developer using CRISPR gene editing, addressing similar oncology indications to Shinobi's NJA-001 with a different source platform.
• Atara Biotherapeutics: Pioneer of allogeneic T-cell (EBV-T) therapies with approved product and broad oncology pipeline; competes in the broader allogeneic cell therapy space though without iPSC sourcing.
• Cellectis: Gene-edited allogeneic CAR-T pioneer supplying platforms to partners like Allogene; comparable in the engineered allogeneic cell therapy category where Shinobi also operates.

Direct peers

• Fate Therapeutics: Pioneer in iPSC-derived NK cell therapies with multiple clinical-stage candidates, making it a direct comparable in the iPSC-NK space where Shinobi's NJA-201 will compete.
• Sana Biotechnology: Uses hypoimmune engineering to enable allogeneic cell therapies without immunosuppression — same core scientific premise as Shinobi's Katana platform immune evasion technology.
• Century Therapeutics: Closest direct competitor — also develops iPSC-derived allogeneic cell therapies (T and NK) with engineered immune evasion and has already advanced CNTY-101 into Phase I for lymphoma and autoimmune indications, mirroring Shinobi's NJA-201.
• Shoreline Biosciences: Develops iPSC-derived NK cell therapies and has multiple pharma partnerships; competes in the same iPSC-NK category as Shinobi's NJA-201.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shinobitx

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors10 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shinobi Therapeutics