PeptiStar

What PeptiStar does

PeptiStar Inc. (ペプチスター株式会社) is a Japanese pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) founded in 2017 and headquartered in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, that specializes in peptide and oligonucleotide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The company serves pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients requiring contract manufacturing across the full development lifecycle — from early-stage research samples through GMP-compliant clinical and commercial supply. Services are organized into four core offerings: peptide API development and manufacturing, oligonucleotide API development and manufacturing, analytical services, and clinical/regulatory (CMC) support.

The technical platform is built on proprietary process technologies including Microwave Solid-Phase Synthesis, the STag-PS Method, the SYNCSOL® registered oligonucleotide synthesis method, Continuous Chromatography Purification, HILIC chromatography, a New Membrane Concentration System (which integrates Asahi Kasei's FO-MD forward osmosis-membrane distillation technology), and Stirred Freeze-Drying. PeptiStar operates three facilities in Settsu — a headquarters research building and two GMP manufacturing buildings — housing what the company describes as one of Japan's largest domestic reaction filtration systems (300L) and freeze-dryers (500L), enabling production from milligram-scale samples to tens of kilograms.

The business model is professional-services CDMO revenue, with project-based pricing tied to scope, stage, and volume (not publicly disclosed). The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales to pharma and biotech clients, supplemented by technical presence at industry conferences (INTERPHEX Japan, TIDES Asia) and peer recognition (2025 CDMO of the Year from Exelixis). The company employs 51-100 people and has raised approximately $282M cumulatively from strategic investors including AMED, INCJ, Mitsubishi Corporation, Otsuka Holdings, Shionogi, Peptidream, Mizuho, Asahi Kasei, and others. Leadership includes Kiichi Kubota as President & CEO and Yasuhisa Adachi as Director; a second President & CEO listing (Yutaka Kameyama) appears in the source data and may reflect a transitional or co-leadership arrangement that requires further verification.

Name

PeptiStar

Legal name

PeptiStar Inc. (ペプチスター株式会社)

Website

https://peptistarinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

PeptiStar is a Japanese pharmaceutical CDMO founded in 2017 that contract-develops and manufactures peptide and oligonucleotide APIs for pharma and biotech clients, using proprietary synthesis and purification technologies across three facilities in Settsu, Osaka.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing (CDMO)

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412), Biological Product (except Diagnostic) Manufacturing (325414), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Medicinal Chemicals & Botanical Products (2833)

akta.pro primary industry

mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO (HLAGABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO (HLAGABAG), GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL), CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)

Keywords

• Peptide API manufacturing
• Oligonucleotide CDMO services
• Contract pharmaceutical manufacturing
• GMP peptide production
• Pharmaceutical contract development

Headquarters

HQ city

Settsu

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: PeptiStar generates revenue as a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) providing peptide and oligonucleotide API development, manufacturing, and analysis services to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Services range from early-stage development through GMP commercial manufacturing.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

PeptiStar is a Japanese pharmaceutical CDMO providing contract development, manufacturing, and analytical services for peptide and oligonucleotide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The company supports pharmaceutical and biotech clients from early-stage development through commercial GMP manufacturing, including CMC documentation and regulatory approval support, with production scale ranging from milligram samples to tens of kilograms.

Product overview

Peptistar is a Japanese pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) providing integrated services for peptide and oligonucleotide drug substances. The company operates a platform-based model with four core service offerings: Peptide API Development and Manufacturing, Oligonucleotide API Development and Manufacturing, Analysis Services, and Clinical/Regulatory Support (CMC). These services are powered by proprietary technologies including Microwave Solid-Phase Synthesis, STag-PS Method, SYNCSOL® Method, Continuous Chromatography Purification, HILIC chromatography, New Membrane Concentration System (including FO-MD technology from Asahi Kasei), and Stirred Freeze-Drying. The company operates three facilities in Settsu, Osaka—including Japan's largest reaction filters (300L) and freeze-dryers (500L)—enabling production from milligram-scale samples to multi-kilogram GMP batches. Peptistar was recognized as Exelixis's 2025 CDMO of the Year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Peptide API Development and Manufacturing (ペプチド原薬開発・製造) Contract development and manufacturing services for peptide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), covering the entire process from early-stage development through commercial GMP production for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.
• Oligonucleotide API Development and Manufacturing (オリゴ核酸原薬開発・製造) Contract development and manufacturing services for oligonucleotide active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), supporting pharmaceutical and biotech clients from preclinical through commercial stages.
• Analysis Services (分析) Comprehensive analytical services supporting peptide and oligonucleotide development, including characterization, purity testing, and quality control throughout the manufacturing process.
• Clinical and Regulatory Support (治験・承認申請サポート) Support services for clinical trials and regulatory approval applications, providing CMC (Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls) documentation and guidance for pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced freeze-drying batches and overall API manufacturing time compared to conventional methods (via FO-MD membrane system)

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Asahi KaseicoreTechnology or Integration · 25 June 2026Asahi Kasei has integrated its novel forward osmosis-membrane distillation (FO-MD) system into Peptistar's manufacturing facility for trial production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). The FO-MD system enables concentration without heat or pressure, reducing freeze-drying batches and overall API manufacturing time compared to conventional methods. Asahi Kasei is studying prospects for future commercialization as part of its structural transformation positioning Life Science as a Growth Potential business.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Peptidream: Japanese peptide discovery and development company and a strategic investor in PeptiStar. Overlapping expertise in peptide chemistry creates partial overlap and a potential channel partner or competitor depending on program type.
• Eurofins Genomics: European-based oligonucleotide manufacturing and genomics services provider. Comparable to PeptiStar's oligo API business, particularly at research-grade and small-scale GMP production.

Direct peers

• Bachem: Swiss-based global leader in peptide CDMO services with multi-thousand-liter reactor capacity. Direct competitor to PeptiStar in peptide API contract manufacturing for pharma and biotech, though at materially larger scale.
• CordenPharma: Global CDMO with significant peptide manufacturing capabilities (CordenPharma Peptide Platform) serving branded and generic pharma. Comparable to PeptiStar across peptide and oligonucleotide API services.
• Nitto Denko Avecia: US-based oligonucleotide CDMO offering contract development and manufacturing of nucleic acid APIs. Direct competitor to PeptiStar's oligonucleotide API services at larger commercial scale.
• PolyPeptide Group: Public Swiss peptide CDMO offering custom peptide manufacturing for therapeutic and diagnostic use. Direct competitor to PeptiStar's peptide API development and manufacturing business across GMP scales.
• Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services: Japanese CDMO providing oligonucleotide and peptide API manufacturing services. Direct competitor to PeptiStar within the Japanese market with broader small-molecule capabilities.
• Asahi Kasei (Life Science / CDMO division): Japanese materials and life sciences conglomerate that is both an investor in PeptiStar and operates adjacent bioprocess/CDMO capabilities, including the FO-MD membrane technology deployed at PeptiStar's facility. Strategic competitor and partner simultaneously.

Broad incumbents

• Lonza: One of the world's largest CDMOs offering peptide and oligonucleotide manufacturing as part of a broader biologics and small-molecule portfolio. Broad incumbent competing in the same peptide/oligonucleotide space as PeptiStar.
• WuXi AppTec: China-based global CRO/CDMO with expanding peptide and oligonucleotide API capabilities. Competes for Asia-Pacific pharma CDMO contracts that might otherwise go to PeptiStar.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors24 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about PeptiStar