TAGCyx Biotechnologies

What TAGCyx Biotechnologies does

TAGCyx Biotechnologies, Inc. (タグシクス・バイオ株式会社) is a privately held, pre-clinical-stage Japanese drug-discovery venture headquartered at the University of Tokyo Komaba Open Laboratory in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, with 11-50 employees and an operating history dating to at least 2015. The company develops high-functionality nucleic-acid therapeutics built on its proprietary Xenoligo® platform, which introduces a third, artificial nucleic-acid base pair (Ds) into DNA, enabling generation of high-affinity, high-selectivity aptamers against targets difficult for conventional antibodies, complemented by proprietary in-vivo stabilization chemistry and the Xenoligo® Apheresis modality for selective removal of soluble disease-related proteins from blood. Lead pipeline assets include TAGX-0003 (anti-IFN-γ aptamer for Hunner-type interstitial cystitis, alopecia areata, vitiligo, and dry eye; out-licensed to CAGE Bio as CGB-600, currently in Phase 2 vitiligo), TAGX-0004 (anti-vWF aptamer for acquired TTP, partnered with GC Pharma), an oncology program partnered with SBI Pharma combining 5-ALA with Xenoligo®, and a preeclampsia apheresis program.

TAGCyx monetizes the platform through a B2B partnership model: enterprise out-licensing and joint R&D agreements with pharmaceutical and biotech counterparties (SBI Pharma, CAGE Bio, GC Pharma, Helios, Showa Denko Materials, Kaiom Bioscience, GlycoTech, plus a Teika Pharmaceutical deal referenced in 2023 press) generate R&D funding, milestone payments, and long-dated royalty entitlements, supplemented by AMED public grants for orphan/intractable-disease programs. Raw-material supply for the platform is secured via an exclusive Ds-amidite supply and patent license with Otsuka Chemical. The company has raised approximately ¥1.41B (~$13.2M USD) across four third-party allotments from 2016-2021, with UTEC, UTokyo IPC, SMBC Venture Capital, Nissay Capital, Mizuho Capital, SBI Group, and Healthcare Innovation as disclosed investors, and has built an academic-collaboration network spanning the University of Tokyo, Nara Medical University, Chiba Institute of Technology, University of Iowa, Singapore IBN, ETH Zurich, and Monasterium Laboratory.

Name

TAGCyx Biotechnologies

Legal name

タグシクス・バイオ株式会社 (TAGCyx Biotechnologies, Inc.)

Website

https://tagcyx.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TAGCyx Biotechnologies is a Tokyo-based pre-clinical biotech that develops Xenoligo®, a proprietary artificial-nucleic-acid DNA aptamer platform, generating drug candidates and apheresis applications for pharma partners via out-licensing, joint R&D, milestone, and royalty agreements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nucleic Acid Therapeutics

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)

akta.pro primary industry

Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Library & Diversity Generation Platforms (display libraries, DNA-encoded libraries for biologics, variant libraries) (HLAAAIAL)

Keywords

• Nucleic acid drugs
• DNA aptamer platform
• Therapeutic oligonucleotides
• Drug discovery licensing
• Aptamer therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Joint R&D Funding & Milestone Payments: Pharma partners (e.g., SBI Pharma, GC Pharma, Helios, Otsuka Chemical) fund preclinical development of specific aptamer candidates. TAGCyx receives R&D funding plus milestone payments as development progresses. Example: SBI Pharma agreement for novel anti-cancer agent provides R&D funding, milestone payments, and post-launch royalties.
2. Out-licensing of Xenoligo® Technology and Pipeline Candidates: Out-licensing of TAGCyx pipeline assets and platform technology to commercial partners. Example: 2022 license agreement with CAGE Bio for TAGX-0003 (anti-IFN-γ aptamer) for autoimmune skin diseases, accompanied by supply agreement with PeptiStar.
3. Royalty Payments on Future Sales: Long-term royalty stream on net sales of licensed products post-launch, e.g., royalty tied to post-launch sales of SBI Pharma anti-cancer aptamer product.
4. Success-based Research Fees from Co-development Partners: Research fees plus success-based milestone payments from co-development collaborations such as Helios (regenerative medicine aptamers), Kaiom Bioscience (aptamer-antibody complex), and GlycoTech (sugar-modified aptamers). Success fees are recognized as operating revenue in each fiscal year of the contract term.
5. Equity Capital (Third-Party Allotment / Venture Financing): Multiple rounds of third-party allotment (第三者割当増資) from venture capital investors including UTEC, SMBC Venture Capital, Nissei Capital, Todai IPC, Mizuho Capital, SBI Group, and Healthcare Innovation — used to advance the Xenoligo® platform and pipeline (¥500M in 2016, ¥500M Series B in 2018, ~¥200M in 2020, ~¥210M in 2021).

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TAGCyx Biotechnologies develops a proprietary DNA aptamer drug-discovery platform (Xenoligo®) based on an artificial nucleic-acid base pair that generates high-affinity, high-specificity therapeutic candidates against disease targets. The company operates an in-house drug-discovery business that progresses pipeline candidates (e.g., anti-IFN-γ TAGX-0003 for Hunner-type interstitial cystitis, vitiligo, alopecia areata; anti-vWF TAGX-0004 for TTP) and out-licenses assets and platform technology to pharmaceutical partners worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Xenoligo®: Proprietary artificial-nucleic-acid-base DNA aptamer platform technology used to generate high-affinity, high-selectivity aptamer drug candidates (also referred to as Xenoligo™ in earlier materials).

Products and services

• Xenoligo® DNA aptamer platform Proprietary DNA aptamer platform built on a third, artificial nucleic-acid base pair (unnatural base Ds) enabling generation of >10^14-sequence aptamer libraries with high affinity and specificity for target proteins; serves as the core licensable technology underpinning TAGCyx's drug-discovery partnerships and pipeline.
• Xenoligo® Apheresis Application of the Xenoligo® aptamer platform to therapeutic apheresis, in which high-affinity DNA aptamers serve as specific ligands on apheresis columns to selectively remove disease-related soluble proteins (e.g., soluble FLT-1 for preeclampsia) from patient blood.
• TAGX-0003 (anti-IFN-γ DNA aptamer) Lead anti-interferon-gamma DNA aptamer based on the Xenoligo® platform; in-licensed by CAGE Bio for autoimmune skin diseases (vitiligo, alopecia areata) and dry eye; also being progressed for Hunner-type interstitial cystitis with AMED support. CGB-600, the licensed topical formulation, is in Phase 2 clinical trial for vitiligo.
• TAGX-0004 (anti-vWF DNA aptamer) Anti-human von Willebrand factor (vWF) A1-domain DNA aptamer based on the Xenoligo® platform; in-licensed by GC Pharma for pre-clinical development targeting acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) and other thrombotic disorders. Preclinical data showed total inhibition of thrombus formation comparable to caplacizumab and superior to ARC1779.
• CGB-600 (topical DNA aptamer for vitiligo) First-in-class topical DNA aptamer (active ingredient licensed from TAGCyx's TAGX-0003) that selectively binds interferon-gamma; licensed to CAGE Bio Inc. for vitiligo; in randomized double-blind placebo-controlled Phase 2 clinical trial (36 patients with non-segmental facial vitiligo), with topline results expected Q3 2026.

Quantifiable outcome

• TAGX-0004 (anti-vWF) showed total inhibition of thrombus formation superior to ARC1779 and comparable to caplacizumab in preclinical models (Haematologica, 2019).
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability5 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core — ai-driven aptamer discovery poc, core — ophthalmology therapeutic area, core — research collaboration on infectious disease aptamers, core — hunner-type interstitial cystitis clinical research, core — alopecia areata pre-clinical research, core — drug-development technology improvement, flagship — exclusive raw-material supply & patent license, core — structural analysis collaboration, flagship — oncology co-development with milestone/royalty, core — regenerative medicine contract development, flagship — vitiligo / autoimmune skin disease out-license, core — transdermal delivery of tagx-0003, flagship — vwf/ttp co-development, flagship — tagx-0004 vwf/ttp academic partner, core — sugar-modified aptamers, core — aptamer-antibody bispecifics, core — cancer-targeting aptamer collaboration, core — regenerative medicine aptamers with milestone achieved and minor — early european biopharma collaboration.

• FRONTEO, Inc.core — ai-driven aptamer discovery pocTechnology or Integration · 22 January 2026PoC agreement (Jan 22, 2026) between FRONTEO and TAGCyx using FRONTEO's "Drug Discovery AI Factory" to identify new target molecules and indications for artificial-nucleic-acid aptamers.
• Ophthalmology area research partner (unnamed; announcement archived on TAGCyx site)core — ophthalmology therapeutic areaStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2025Announcement (Feb 5, 2025) of establishment of research cooperation framework to develop groundbreaking treatments in the ophthalmology area. Partner name not disclosed in the page content.
• ETH Zurich (Prof. Yohei Yamauchi)core — research collaboration on infectious disease aptamersStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 March 2024Joint research agreement (Mar 13, 2024) with Prof. Yohei Yamauchi of ETH Zurich (Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland) for the discovery and creation of novel Xenoligo® aptamers in the infectious-disease area. TAGCyx contributes its artificial-base-containing DNA aptamer platform; Yamauchi Lab evaluates antiviral activity of newly created aptamers.
• University of Tokyo Hospital (Lecturer Yoshiyuki Akiyama) & University of Iowa (Prof. Yi Luo)core — hunner-type interstitial cystitis clinical researchStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 November 2023Joint research results on anti-interferon-γ DNA aptamer therapy for Hunner-type interstitial cystitis accepted in iScience (Nov 15, 2023). Paper: "Th1/17 polarization and potential treatment by an anti-interferon-γ DNA aptamer in Hunner-type interstitial cystitis." Akiyama continues to advise TAGCyx's TAGX-0003 HIC program.
• Monasterium Laboratory (Germany)core — alopecia areata pre-clinical researchStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2021Joint research with Monasterium Laboratory (Münster, Germany) on alopecia areata using TAGX-0003 in humanized mouse models. Results presented at Society for Investigative Dermatology 2021 and European Society for Dermatological Research (ESDR) 2021. Co-authored paper: "Novel IFNγ aptamer TAGX-0003 protected hair follicles from immune privilege collapse and reversed alopecia areata like phenotype in humanized mouse model."
• University of Tokyo (Prof. Shinsuke Sando)core — drug-development technology improvementStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021Joint research agreement (Mar 22, 2021) with Prof. Shinsuke Sando (Graduate School of Engineering, University of Tokyo) for technology improvement to develop Xenoligo® as an excellent pharmaceutical. Sando Lab works on functional molecules (artificial cell growth factors, artificial peptides). Results presented at CSJ Chemistry Festa 2020 and Biomaterials Science journal.
• Otsuka Chemical Co., Ltd.flagship — exclusive raw-material supply & patent licenseOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 5 March 2021Exclusive supply and patent license agreement (Mar 5, 2021) for Ds amidite, the artificial-nucleotide raw material used to manufacture Xenoligo® DNA aptamers. TAGCyx grants Otsuka Chemical an exclusive patent license for Ds amidite production; Otsuka Chemical develops quality-assured mass-production process and exclusively supplies Ds amidite for TAGCyx's aptamer development and commercialization.
• Chiba Institute of Technology (Prof. Taiichi Sakamoto)core — structural analysis collaborationStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2021Joint research agreement (Feb 19, 2021) with Prof. Taiichi Sakamoto (Faculty of Advanced Engineering, Department of Life Science, Chiba Institute of Technology) for structural analysis of Xenoligo® to elucidate binding modes to target proteins. Ongoing joint presentations at ISMAR-APNMR, NMR Symposium, and Japanese Molecular Biology Society annual meetings.
• SBI Pharma Co., Ltd.flagship — oncology co-development with milestone/royaltyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 November 2020Joint R&D agreement (Nov 25, 2020) combining SBI Pharma's 5-ALA technology with TAGCyx's Xenoligo® platform to develop novel anti-cancer drugs. TAGCyx receives R&D funding, milestone payments as development progresses, and royalty payments based on post-launch sales. SBI Pharma is led by CEO Yoshitaka Kita.
• Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd.core — regenerative medicine contract developmentImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 17 November 2020Development outsourcing/contract agreement (signed Oct 12, 2020; announced Nov 17, 2020). Showa Denko Materials commissions TAGCyx to develop new regenerative-medicine technologies using Xenoligo®. Showa Denko Materials has a CDMO subsidiary, Minaris Regenerative Medicine, LLC. Goal: creation of safe and effective cell preparations.
• CAGE Bio Inc.flagship — vitiligo / autoimmune skin disease out-licenseOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 18 September 2020Initial joint research agreement (Sep 18, 2020) and subsequent licensing agreement (Sep 8, 2022) covering TAGX-0003 (anti-IFN-γ DNA aptamer) for autoimmune skin diseases, paired with a supply agreement with PeptiStar. CAGE Bio applies its proprietary co-crystal ionic-liquid formulation technology to enable non-invasive transdermal delivery of TAGX-0003 for alopecia areata, vitiligo, and related conditions. CGB-600 Phase 2 trial in vitiligo (36 patients) initiated Oct 2025.
• Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (Assoc. Prof. Yuki Takashima)core — transdermal delivery of tagx-0003Strategic or Co-development Partner · 21 August 2020Joint research with Takashima Lab (Department of Pharmaceutics, Tokyo University of Pharmacy) on transdermal delivery formulations of TAGX-0003 (anti-IFNγ aptamer) for alopecia areata. Presented at Japan DDS Society 36th Annual Meeting (Aug 2020); student Yukari Ikeda received Nagai Foundation Nanahoshi Pharmacist Encouragement Award (Sep 2020).
• GC Pharma (Green Cross Corporation, South Korea)flagship — vwf/ttp co-developmentStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2020Joint R&D agreement (Feb 19, 2020) for preclinical studies of TAGX-0004, an anti-human vWF DNA aptamer containing TAGCyx's proprietary artificial nucleotide. GC Pharma funds pre-agreed preclinical studies; TAGCyx conducts studies with CROs. Indication: thrombotic disorders including brain/cardiac infarction and acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP).
• Nara Medical University (Prof. Masanori Matsumoto)flagship — tagx-0004 vwf/ttp academic partnerStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2019Long-standing joint research with Prof. Masanori Matsumoto's lab at Nara Medical University. Published novel aptamer TAGX-0004 to vWF A1 domain in Haematologica (in press Dec 2019); subsequent publications in 臨床血液 (Rinketsu, 2022). TAGX-0004 demonstrated total inhibition of thrombus formation superior to ARC1779 and comparable to caplacizumab.
• GlycoTech (GlycoTech Research Institute)core — sugar-modified aptamersStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2019Joint research agreement (Oct 10, 2019) with GlycoTech Research Institute (CEO Hiroaki Asai, Kyoto) for sugar-modification technology applied to aptamers. Combines Xenoligo® with GlycoTech's high-purity human-type sugar preparation and sugar-modification technologies for peptide/glyco-functional enhancement. Future profits to be shared.
• Kaiom Biosciencecore — aptamer-antibody bispecificsStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 October 2019Joint research agreement (Oct 9, 2019) to combine Xenoligo® aptamers with Kaiom Bioscience's monoclonal antibodies to create bispecific molecules with enhanced functionality. Kaiom (CEO Shigeru Kobayashi, Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers). Future profits from resulting technologies and products will be shared.
• Singapore Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (IBN) — Prof. Ichiro Hiraocore — cancer-targeting aptamer collaborationStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019Joint research with Prof. Ichiro Hirao's team at IBN Singapore. Published paper "Genetic Alphabet Expansion Provides Versatile Specificities and Activities of Unnatural-Base DNA Aptamers Targeting Cancer Cells" in Molecular Therapy – Nucleic Acids Vol.14, P158-170, March 1, 2019. Prof. Hirao serves as speaker at TAGCyx's Aptamer Seminar in Tokyo.
• Helios (Healios K.K.)core — regenerative medicine aptamers with milestone achievedStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2018Joint research agreement (Sep 14, 2018) for use of Xenoligo® aptamers in regenerative medicine. Helios (Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers, CEO Tadahisa Kagimoto) receives aptamers from TAGCyx; TAGCyx receives research fees plus success-based milestone payments. Milestone payment received Dec 25, 2019.
• European biopharma company (unnamed)minor — early european biopharma collaborationStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2017Joint R&D agreement (Feb 2017, 2-year term, extendable by mutual agreement) with a European biopharma company. Applies TAGCyx's technology platform to discovery/identification of novel aptamers against specific membrane-protein drug targets.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• AnGes MG: Japanese nucleic-acid drug developer (HGF gene therapy, NF-κB decoy oligos). Closest comparable Japanese biotech developing nucleic-acid therapeutics with a similar venture-stage profile and partnership-driven commercial model.
• SomaLogic: Aptamer-based proteomics/diagnostics company using slow off-rate modified aptamers (SOMAmers). Directly comparable in the use of DNA aptamers as a core platform technology for high-affinity target binding.
• Noxxon Pharma: Clinical-stage biotech developing Spiegelmer® aptamers for cancer and other diseases. Direct peer in the therapeutic aptamer space with a similar partnership/out-licensing approach and focus on oncology.

Broad incumbents

• Wave Life Sciences: Clinical-stage nucleic-acid therapeutics company with stereopure oligonucleotide platform. Comparable as a broader nucleic-acid drug developer applying proprietary chemistry to previously hard-to-drug targets.
• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Leading antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug developer with multiple approved products. Comparable as a large, established nucleic-acid therapeutics company pursuing indications where antibodies are limited.
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Pioneer in RNAi/siRNA therapeutics with multiple approved products. Comparable as a major nucleic-acid therapeutics company that built a pipeline and commercial franchise around an alternative-to-antibody modality.

Emerging players

• PeptiStar: Japanese oligonucleotide and peptide CDMO with a supply agreement with TAGCyx for aptamer manufacturing. Comparable as an emerging manufacturing partner for nucleic-acid drugs and a regional CDMO capability relevant to TAGCyx's supply chain.

Others

• BioSpring: European oligonucleotide CDMO producing custom DNA/RNA APIs. Comparable as an enabling CDMO in the nucleic-acid drug supply chain that TAGCyx's platform also depends on.
• TriLink BioTechnologies: US-based oligonucleotide CDMO and modified nucleic-acid manufacturer. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure provider for nucleic-acid therapeutics manufacturers like TAGCyx.
• Nitto Denko Avecia: Oligonucleotide and nucleic-acid CDMO (part of Nitto Denko). Comparable as an enabling manufacturing partner for nucleic-acid drug substances, relevant to TAGCyx's aptamer manufacturing pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/xenoligo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tagcyx-biotechnologies

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about TAGCyx Biotechnologies