PeptiStar
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSettsu, Japan
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
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.
PeptiStar firmographics
Firmographics- 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
PeptiStar industry classification
Industry- 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
Where PeptiStar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Settsu
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
PeptiStar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- 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
PeptiStar product offering
Product offeringCore 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)
Companies that use PeptiStar
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
PeptiStar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
PeptiStar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Asahi KaseicoreAsahi 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
PeptiStar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging 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
PeptiStar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PeptiStar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PeptiStar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors24 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PeptiStar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PeptiStar
What does PeptiStar do?
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.
Is PeptiStar a public or private company?
PeptiStar is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was PeptiStar founded?
PeptiStar was founded in 2017. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PeptiStar based?
PeptiStar is headquartered in Settsu, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does PeptiStar make money?
One revenue line is on record: contract Manufacturing Services.
Who are PeptiStar's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Peptidream and Eurofins Genomics. Direct peers are Bachem, CordenPharma, Nitto Denko Avecia, PolyPeptide Group, Ajinomoto Bio-Pharma Services and Asahi Kasei (Life Science / CDMO division). Broad incumbents are Lonza and WuXi AppTec.
Does PeptiStar have an API?
No public API is recorded for PeptiStar.
What industry is PeptiStar in?
PeptiStar's product category is Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing (CDMO). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGABAF, mRNA/LNP & Nucleic Acid Therapeutics CDMO, with a secondary code of HLAGABAG, Drug Substance–Drug Product Integrated CDMO. Its NAICS code is 3254 and its SIC code is 2834.