What MabGenesis does

MabGenesis (マブジェネシス株式会社) is a Yokohama, Japan-based private biotech startup founded to commercialize more than 30 years of domestic academic antibody research. The company operates as a B2B therapeutic antibody discovery platform serving pharmaceutical partners in both human and animal health. Its technology stack centers on the proprietary MOURA Library — a phage display antibody library with 10^11 clones derived from bone marrow and spleen immune cells — offered across specialized variants for human (hMOURA), canine (cMOURA, 10^10), feline (fMOURA, 10^10), camelid VHH (cVHH MOURA, 10^11), and a cancer cell-specific subset library built from screening ~50 cancer cell lines. The IMPACT screening method complements these libraries by enabling efficient isolation of phage antibodies against cell membrane antigens, including those recognizing subtle conformational differences that conventional technologies cannot capture.

MabGenesis translates this platform into revenue through three channels: research collaborations (a structured 4-step antibody discovery service), a discovery pipeline offering for partners seeking novel antibody therapeutics, and technology licensing of the library and screening IP. Notable internal and out-licensed antibody assets include an anti-TfR1 antibody progressed into a Phase 1 trial by another company, an anti-Integrin A6B4 complex antibody (world's first), an anti-CADM1/IgSF4 human antibody (world's first), and an anti-EGF Receptor antibody showing superior tumor suppression versus cetuximab in mouse models. Granted IP includes US 9598496 B2, WO 2015034052 A1, and 特開2015-7030, supported by founder/CTO Kurosawa Gene's peer-reviewed methodology publications.

Business operations are concentrated in two segments: human pharmaceuticals (focused on oncology and zoonotic disease with high unmet needs, addressing a ¥35 trillion 2023 global antibody drug market) and companion animal antibody therapeutics (targeting a projected ¥1 trillion global market by 2032). Named strategic partners span the global animal-health majors (Ceva, MSD Animal Health, Virbac) and Japanese partners (Kyoritsu Seiyaku, Nippon Soda). Across three disclosed funding rounds (2020, 2020, 2024) the company has raised approximately $5.57M total; headcount sits in the 11–50 range, consistent with a capital-efficient preclinical platform rather than a scaling clinical-stage commercial organization.

Name

MabGenesis

Legal name

MabGenesis（マブジェネシス）株式会社

Website

https://mabgenesis.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MabGenesis is a Yokohama-based private biotech startup that commercializes 30+ years of Japanese academic antibody research, offering pharmaceutical partners proprietary phage display antibody libraries (MOURA) and an IMPACT screening method to discover first-in-class therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for human and companion animal applications.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Antibody Discovery & Biopharmaceutical R&D Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836), Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Library & Diversity Generation Platforms (display libraries, DNA-encoded libraries for biologics, variant libraries) (HLAAAIAL), In Vivo Discovery & Translational Models Platforms (humanized models, PK/PD, efficacy) (HLAAAIAK), Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)

Keywords

• Monoclonal antibody discovery
• Phage display library
• Therapeutic antibody development
• Animal health biologics
• Antibody screening technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research Collaboration: Collaborative research services where MabGenesis leverages its MOURA Library and IMPACT technology to rapidly and efficiently discover target antibodies for pharmaceutical partners.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary antibody library and screening technologies to pharmaceutical companies for drug discovery research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

MabGenesis commercializes a proprietary antibody discovery platform — the MOURA Library (human, canine, feline, camelid VHH, and cancer cell-specific phage display libraries) together with the IMPACT screening method — to deliver therapeutic monoclonal antibody candidates for human and companion animal applications. The company sells its discovery services and platforms through research collaboration agreements, pipeline co-development, and technology licensing to pharmaceutical and animal health partners.

Product overview

MabGenesis is a startup biopharmaceutical company that commercializes over 30 years of academic antibody research. The company provides a technology platform consisting of the proprietary MOURA Library (phage display antibody libraries for humans, canines, and felines with up to 10^11 diversity) and the IMPACT screening technology for efficient monoclonal antibody isolation. The portfolio includes multiple drug candidates targeting cancer (anti-TfR1, anti-Integrin A6B4, anti-CADM1, anti-EGF Receptor antibodies). Services offered include collaborative research, discovery pipeline, and technology licensing for pharmaceutical partners seeking to develop first-in-class and best-in-class therapeutic monoclonal antibody drugs for both human and companion animal applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MOURA Library: Proprietary phage display antibody library with 10^11 clones for antibody discovery, available in human (hMOURA), cancer cell-specific, camelid VHH (cVHH), canine (cMOURA), and feline (fMOURA) variants.
• IMPACT

Products and services

• MOURA Library Antibody Platform (Human hMOURA, Canine cMOURA, Feline fMOURA, Camelid VHH cVHH MOURA, and Cancer Cell-Specific Subset variants) A family of proprietary phage display antibody libraries providing the world's largest, functionally optimized antibody repertoires for human, canine, feline, and camelid VHH antibody discovery, plus a cancer cell-specific subset. Sold as a licensable platform for pharmaceutical and animal health partners.
• IMPACT Screening Method Efficient proprietary phage antibody screening technology that enables isolation of high-quality antibodies against cell membrane antigens, including difficult targets that recognize subtle structural differences. Sold together with the MOURA Library as a licensable technology package.
• Collaborative Research Service A 4-step custom antibody discovery service for pharmaceutical partners covering panning/screening, scFv identification, IgG conversion/expression, and IgG functional evaluation, leveraging proprietary MOURA Library and IMPACT technology.
• Discovery Pipeline Drug discovery pipeline offering for pharmaceutical partners seeking to develop novel therapeutic monoclonal antibody candidates, with assets including anti-TfR1, anti-Integrin A6B4, anti-CADM1/IgSF4, and anti-EGFR antibody candidates.
• Technology License Licensing arrangement where MabGenesis grants partners rights to use its proprietary antibody library (MOURA) and IMPACT screening technologies for the partners' own internal drug discovery programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Anti-tumor activity superior to Cetuximab in cancer mouse models
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CevacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCeva is listed as a business partner of MabGenesis. Ceva is a major animal health company that could potentially collaborate on animal antibody drug development.
• MSD Animal Health (MSDアニマルヘルス)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMSD Animal Health is listed as a business partner. As one of the largest animal health companies globally, potential collaboration areas include companion animal antibody therapeutics.
• VirbaccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVirbac is listed as a business partner. As a global animal health company, potential collaboration on veterinary antibody products.
• 共立製薬 (Kyoritsu Seiyaku)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyoritsu Seiyaku is listed as a business partner. Japanese animal health company that may collaborate on domestic or international antibody drug development.
• 日本曹達 (Nippon Soda)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNippon Soda is listed as a business partner. Japanese chemical and pharmaceutical company with potential for collaboration in human or animal health antibody therapeutics.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• GenScript ProBio: Biologics CDMO offering antibody discovery, engineering, and manufacturing services. Comparable as a B2B antibody discovery service provider with broader manufacturing scope.
• WuXi Biologics: Global biologics CRO/CDMO offering antibody discovery, development, and manufacturing services to pharma. Comparable as a large-scale antibody discovery service provider, though broader scope and scale than MabGenesis.
• Zoetis: Largest global animal health company and a potential customer/partner for companion animal antibody therapeutics. Comparable as a major channel for veterinary biologics — relevant to MabGenesis's animal health partnerships.

Direct peers

• AbCellera Biologics: Vancouver-based antibody discovery platform company using single-cell screening and proprietary libraries to discover monoclonal antibody candidates for pharma partners. Directly comparable B2B business model centered on antibody out-licensing and platform partnerships.
• Adimab: Leading yeast-display-based antibody discovery platform providing partnered antibody discovery, optimization, and licensing to pharma. Closely mirrors MabGenesis's display library + pharma partnership model.
• AnaptysBio: Antibody discovery and development company using proprietary somatic hypermutation platforms to generate therapeutic mAbs for immuno-oncology and inflammation. Comparable as a discovery-stage antibody platform monetizing via licensing and partnerships.

Emerging players

• Twist Bioscience: Synthetic DNA and antibody library provider with phage-display libraries sold to pharma and biotech. Comparable via display-library technology offerings, though broader in synthetic biology scope.
• Harbour BioMed: Biotech specializing in heavy-chain-only antibody (HCAb) and bispecific discovery using transgenic mouse and phage display platforms. Comparable via display-library technology and antibody platform licensing to pharma.
• Crescendo Biologics: Developer of T cell engagers based on a humanized VHH (camelid single-domain antibody) platform. Comparable to MabGenesis's cVHH MOURA Library work on VHH-derived therapeutics.

Regional players

• IDEXX Laboratories: Animal diagnostics and veterinary products company with deep companion animal channel reach. Relevant as a potential downstream partner or comparator in the companion animal therapeutics/diagnostics ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors7 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 MabGenesis