What J-Pharma does

J-Pharma Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company founded in December 2005 that pioneered drug discovery targeting LAT1 (L-type amino acid transporter 1), a solute carrier (SLC) transporter responsible for amino acid uptake essential to cancer cell proliferation. The company's core asset is nanvuranlat (JPH203), the world's first small-molecule LAT1-selective inhibitor to enter clinical development, currently in a global Phase III trial (Beacon-BTC) for second-line biliary tract cancer with FDA Orphan Drug Designation and FDA-cleared IND. Its second program, JPH034, is a CNS-penetrant LAT1 inhibitor in US Phase I for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, backed by an exclusive global license from Georgetown University. Earlier-stage work targets KRAS-mutant colorectal cancer, glioma, and autoimmune indications.

The company operates as a virtual biotech with 18 employees as of March 31, 2026, listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Growth Market (Ticker: 520A) since March 25, 2026. J-Pharma does not commercialize products directly; it monetizes through out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners—Ohara Pharmaceutical holds regional rights for Japan, China, Asia, and Africa under a 2019 agreement, while Uniphar Development serves as US regulatory agent and Phase III co-development partner. Capital stock at IPO was JPY 2,033 million (~USD 13–14 million), supplemented by approximately JPY 3,346 million in Series D tranches raised between 2020 and 2021 from investors including Eight Roads Ventures, F-Prime Capital, JIC Venture Growth, and Ohara Pharmaceutical, plus up to approximately JPY 2 billion in potential AMED grant funding.

J-Pharma's proprietary position rests on substance patents for nanvuranlat, cancer therapeutic use patents (registered July 2020), and biomarker-based patient-stratification patents (registered June 2021), with exclusivity extending to 2044. Leadership is anchored by CEO Masuhiro Yoshitake (40 years of pharma experience with three prior FDA/EMA approvals), CFO Yutaka Fujimoto (approximately JPY 9 billion in cumulative fundraising), and Founder & Fellow Dr. Hitoshi Endo, the Kyorin University Professor Emeritus who originally discovered LAT1. The company targets a USD 1 billion annual sales goal for nanvuranlat by 2030 through global out-licensing.

Name

J-Pharma

Legal name

ジェイファーマ株式会社

Website

https://j-pharma.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

J-Pharma Co., Ltd. is a clinical-stage Japanese biotechnology company developing first-in-class LAT1 amino acid transporter inhibitors for biliary tract cancer (Phase III) and multiple sclerosis (Phase I), monetizing through global out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Oncology Pharmaceuticals - LAT1 Inhibitor Therapeutics

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing (325412)

SIC

Pharmaceutical Preparations (2834)

akta.pro primary industry

Translational Medicine & Biomarkers (HLAIALAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC)

Keywords

• LAT1 inhibitor therapeutics
• SLC transporter drug discovery
• Biliary tract cancer treatment
• Multiple sclerosis therapy
• Clinical-stage oncology biotechnology

Headquarters

HQ city

Yokohama

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Out-licensing and milestone payments: Pre-commercialization biotech company. Revenue expected from out-licensing deals with pharmaceutical companies, including upfront payments, development milestones, and sales royalties. In 2019, Ohara Pharmaceutical licensed rights for Japan, China, Asia, and Africa. Uniphar partnership established for US regulatory and development support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

J-Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing first-in-class LAT1 (L-type amino acid transporter 1) inhibitors as novel therapeutics. Its lead compound nanvuranlat (JPH203) targets amino acid transport in cancer cells and is in global Phase III (Beacon-BTC) for second-line biliary tract cancer, while JPH034, a CNS-penetrant LAT1 inhibitor, is in Phase I for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. The company monetizes through out-licensing of development and commercialization rights to pharmaceutical partners.

Product overview

J-Pharma is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing LAT1 (L-type amino acid transporter 1) inhibitors as novel cancer and autoimmune disease treatments. The company's core product is nanvuranlat (JPH203), a first-in-class LAT1-selective inhibitor for biliary tract cancer in Phase III development. The pipeline also includes JPH034, a CNS-penetrant LAT1 inhibitor for multiple sclerosis in Phase I. J-Pharma leverages its SLC transporter platform to develop treatments targeting amino acid transport mechanisms, with a focus on oncology and autoimmune diseases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nanvuranlat (JPH203, ナンブランラト) A novel LAT1-selective inhibitor and the world's first compound with this mechanism of action to enter clinical development worldwide. It competitively binds to the amino acid pocket within LAT1, inhibiting its activity without acting on LAT2 expressed in normal cells, and is being developed for advanced biliary tract cancer (second-line monotherapy and first-line combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors). Potential first-in-class drug for biliary tract cancer patients who have failed first-line chemotherapy.
• JPH034 A second-generation LAT1 inhibitor characterized by high brain penetrance, confirmed in nonclinical studies in monkeys. Being developed for non-relapsing secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) and glioma; targets microglia in the central nervous system to address smoldering inflammation in SPMS.

Quantifiable outcome

• Phase II primary endpoint achieved: PFS HR=0.56 (95% CI: 0.34-0.90, p=0.02) vs placebo in advanced biliary tract cancer
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Uniphar / Uniphar DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 June 2026Strategic partnership with Uniphar Development (Uniphar's regulatory and clinical development division) for global Phase III development of nanvuranlat. Uniphar Development serves as J-Pharma's US regulatory agent with FDA and provides ongoing strategic support. Partnership enabled FDA alignment allowing direct Phase III entry without additional Phase II trial. Jointly managing Beacon-BTC Phase III trial.
• Cancer Institute Hospital of JFCRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Investigator-initiated clinical trial evaluating nanvuranlat with immune checkpoint inhibitors for first-line biliary tract cancer treatment. J-Pharma provides support under agreement with the hospital.
• Georgetown UniversitycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2023Exclusive global license for LAT1 inhibitor use patents in central inflammatory diseases including multiple sclerosis. J-Pharma received rights to method-of-use patents for JPH034 development. Collaboration includes mouse model studies demonstrating LAT1 inhibitor efficacy in MS.
• Ohara Pharmaceutical (大原薬品工業)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 April 2019License and co-development agreement for nanvuranlat (JPH203) covering Japan, China, Asia, and Africa regions. Ohara Pharmaceutical acquired exclusive rights for development, manufacturing, and commercialization in licensed territories. J-Pharma receives upfront payments, development milestones, and sales royalties.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• AstraZeneca: Markets durvalumab (Imfinzi) plus chemotherapy for first-line BTC, setting standard of care that nanvuranlat will be benchmarked against in second-line. Also previously licensed J-Pharma's URAT1/OAT1/OAT4 transporter patents to Ardea.
• Biogen: Major multiple sclerosis franchise (Tysabri, Tecfidera, Vumerity) and a comparable peer for JPH034's CNS-penetrant LAT1 inhibitor program targeting SPMS, where novel mechanisms compete against established MS franchises.
• Agios Pharmaceuticals: Agios pioneered cancer metabolism drug development (ivosidenib, mitapivat) with FDA-approved targeted oncology assets. Comparable focus on first-in-class mechanism-driven oncology and rare disease franchises.
• BeiGene: Global oncology company with tislelizumab and BTK inhibitors, providing comparable reference for a clinical-stage oncology company pursuing global development with biomarker-driven positioning.
• Forma Therapeutics (now part of Novo Nordisk): Forma focused on rare hematologic disorders and cancer metabolism, providing another reference point for a small-cap biotech building targeted oncology assets around novel mechanisms.
• Astellas Pharma: Large Japanese pharmaceutical company with established oncology and rare-disease franchises, providing a comparable late-stage development and global commercialization reference for a Japanese biotech targeting oncology.

Direct peers

• Incyte Corporation: Incyte markets pemigatinib (Pemazyre) for FGFR2 fusion-positive BTC, directly competing with nanvuranlat in the targeted second-line BTC space. Comparable oncology-focused development and licensing business model.
• Taiho Pharmaceutical: Japanese oncology-focused pharmaceutical company developing therapies for gastrointestinal cancers including BTC. Regional peer with comparable Japanese clinical development and commercial reach in Asia.
• Helsinn Group: Helsinn (which acquired QED Therapeutics) developed infigratinib for FGFR2-altered BTC. Comparable targeted-therapy focus and out-licensing/distribution model in BTC.
• Servier: Servier markets ivosidenib (Tibsovo) for IDH1-mutated BTC, another targeted competitor in second-line advanced BTC. Comparable focus on biomarker-driven oncology drug development and rare-disease oncology franchises.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds20 records

Investors38 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 J-Pharma