Tanso Biosciences

What Tanso Biosciences does

Tanso Biosciences, Inc. is a Tokyo-based contract research organization founded in 2018 as a University of Tokyo spin-off biotech venture, specializing in GPCR (G-protein coupled receptor) functional assays for drug discovery and translational research. The company serves pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, food and beverage companies, and academic institutions worldwide, including named clients and partners such as Capacity Bio, Digestome Therapeutics, two major Japanese pharmaceutical companies (anonymized as Pharma A and B), UCSF, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Science, Fujita Health University, Gunma University, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

The company's core offering is a proprietary GPCR functional assay platform built on a patented GPCR-selective signal amplification technology (international patent application WO/2020/026979, granted in Japan and the United States, pending in Europe). The platform covers 550 validated receptors (300 human and 250 mouse) across all four major G protein families (Gq, Gs, Gi/o, and G12/13), including pathways such as G12/13 that are traditionally difficult to assay. Service modules include scalable panel assays of up to 294 receptors per screen, concentration-response analysis delivering EC50 and IC50 data, inter-species comparison assays, proton sensitivity assays, custom assay development, and a dedicated GPCR Safety Panel for off-target profiling, with results typically delivered within approximately three weeks of compound receipt.

Tanso Biosciences operates a fee-for-service professional services revenue model with quote-based pricing. All engagements are direct sales through a website inquiry system, with the company committing to a 24-hour response window for consultations and quotations. Beyond contract services, the company maintains an internal orphan GPCR drug discovery program targeting approximately 100 orphan receptors and has identified agonists for six targets (GPR39, GPR55, GPR65, GPR68, GPR132, P2RY10). The company is privately held with no publicly disclosed funding rounds and reports a headcount of 1-10 employees.

Name

Tanso Biosciences

Legal name

Tanso Biosciences, Inc.

Website

https://tansobio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tanso Biosciences is a Tokyo-based contract research organization offering proprietary GPCR functional assay services to pharmaceutical, biotech, food industry, and academic clients, with validated coverage across 550 human and mouse receptors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research / Drug Discovery Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGAAAB

Preclinical CROs (Discovery/Pharmacology/DMPK)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Contract Research Organizations (CRO)

SECONDARYHLAGAAAD

Bioanalytical & Biomarker CROs (PK/PD/Immunogenicity)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Contract Research Organizations (CRO)

SECONDARYHLAAAIAK

In Vivo Discovery & Translational Models Platforms (humanized models, PK/PD, efficacy)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biologic Drug Discovery Platforms (screening, antibody engineering, synthetic biology)

SECONDARYHLAAAMAD

Translational & Pharmacodynamic Biomarkers (MOA, target engagement, PD/PK-linked markers)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biomarkers and Companion Diagnostics

SECONDARYHLAAAIAI

Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Biotechnology & Biologics/Biologic Drug Discovery Platforms (screening, antibody engineering, synthetic biology)

SECONDARYHLAGAEAB

Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Central Labs & Clinical Diagnostics Services (Trial Support)

Keywords

• GPCR assay services
• Drug discovery assays
• Contract research organization
• Orphan GPCR screening
• Functional assay platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Contract Assay Services: Fee-for-service contract research model providing GPCR functional assays to pharma, biotech, food industry, and academic clients. Services include panel assays (up to 294 receptors), concentration-response analysis, cross-species comparisons, proton sensitivity evaluation, and custom assay development. Revenue is generated on a per-assay, per-project basis with turnaround of approximately 3 weeks for results.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tanso Biosciences provides contract GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor) functional assay services for pharmaceutical, biotech, food industry, and academic clients, using a proprietary signal amplification technology to evaluate 550 validated human and mouse receptors across all four major G protein families (Gq, Gs, Gi/o, G12/13). Services include panel assays (up to 294 receptors), concentration-response analysis, inter-species comparisons, proton sensitivity assays, and custom assay development, with results typically delivered within approximately 3 weeks. The company also operates an internal orphan GPCR drug discovery program targeting approximately 100 orphan receptors.

Product overview

Tanso Biosciences offers a unified GPCR functional assay platform providing drug discovery and contract research services. The core offering includes the proprietary GPCR Functional Assay Platform supporting 550 validated human and mouse receptors across all four G protein families. Key service modules include Panel Assays (up to 294 receptors), Concentration-Response Analysis, Inter-Species Comparison, Proton Sensitivity Assays, and Custom Assay Development. The company also provides specialized GPCR Safety Panels and operates an internal Orphan GPCR Drug Discovery program. All offerings are supported by the company's comprehensive GPCR Catalog and backed by international patents (WO/2020/026979).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GPCR Functional Assay Platform Proprietary high-sensitivity assay platform enabling comprehensive evaluation of GPCR activity across 550 validated human and mouse receptors, covering all four major G protein families (Gq, Gs, Gi/o, G12/13) including the traditionally challenging G12/13-coupled receptors. Sold as a contract research service to pharma, biotech, food industry, and academic clients.
• Panel Assays Scalable GPCR panel assays supporting up to 294 receptors in human or mouse per screen, used for rapid selectivity, safety, and off-target profiling at any stage of drug discovery. Sold as a contract service to pharma, biotech, and academic clients.
• Concentration-Response Analysis Full concentration-response profiling in agonist, antagonist, and other assay modes, delivering EC50/IC50 data for compound prioritization and optimization. Sold as a contract service to pharma and biotech clients.
• Inter-Species Comparison Assays Cross-species GPCR functional assays covering 300 human, 250 mouse, plus rat, rabbit, dog, and cynomolgus monkey on request. Supports inter-species pharmacology comparisons and de-risking the path to preclinical studies. Sold as a contract service.
• Proton Sensitivity Assays Characterization of pH-dependent GPCR activity to unlock targets relevant to ischemia, inflammation, and tumor microenvironments. Sold as a contract service to pharma, biotech, and academic clients.
• Custom Assay Development Fully customized assay development tailored to specific client needs, including orphan GPCRs and Gi/o- and G12/13-coupled receptors. Sold as a contract service.
• GPCR Safety Panels Specialized panel assays for identifying off-target GPCR activity that may cause adverse effects such as unwanted CNS side effects, helping prevent late-stage development obstacles. Launched as a standalone offering in October 2024 and sold as a contract service to pharma and biotech clients.
• Orphan GPCR Drug Discovery Program Internal drug discovery program targeting approximately 100 orphan GPCRs using Tanso's proprietary functional assay technology. Agonists have been identified for six orphan GPCRs (GPR39, GPR55, GPR65, GPR68, GPR132, P2RY10). Represents the company's internal R&D pipeline leveraging its assay platform.
• GPCR Catalog Comprehensive catalog of 550 receptors (300 human and 250 mouse) across all major GPCR families, supporting unified panel assays, dose-response studies, and wide-ranging functional analyses. Provides reference agonist EC50 data and assay availability/assay modes per receptor, and serves as the basis for Tanso's contract service offerings.

Quantifiable outcome

• 550 GPCRs validated for assay across all four G protein families (Gq, Gs, Gi/o, G12/13)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• University of California San Francisco (UCSF)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued client and research partner. UCSF utilizes Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay platform for academic drug discovery research.
• University of Tokyo (東京大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity of Tokyo is the originating institution of Tanso Biosciences, which was founded as a Tokyo University-based biotech venture (東京大学発バイオベンチャー). The company leverages research from this institution and maintains ongoing research partnerships.
• Fujita Health UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued client and academic research partner using Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay platform.
• Tokyo University of Science (東京理科大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued academic client and research partner utilizing Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay services.
• Capacity BiominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued client. Capacity Bio, a California-based biotech company, has utilized the assay platform for GPCR drug discovery projects, with CEO Ken Horne providing a testimonial endorsement.
• Digestome TherapeuticsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued biotech client and research partner using Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay platform.
• Gunma University (群馬大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued academic partner. Gunma University collaborated with Tanso Biosciences on research using the assay platform to uncover metformin's anti-tumor mechanism via LPA receptors, published in March 2025.
• Howard Hughes Medical InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued client and research partner. Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers utilize Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay platform for their research programs.
• Kyoto University (京都大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued academic partner using Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay platform for research.
• Nagoya University (名古屋大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a valued academic partner utilizing Tanso Biosciences' GPCR assay services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• SB Drug Discovery: GPCR-focused contract research organization offering functional assays, binding studies, and custom assay development. Highly comparable specialty CRO positioning to Tanso.
• Eurofins Cerep: Eurofins' BioPrint profiling business offering in vitro pharmacology across GPCRs, ion channels, and enzymes. Directly comparable to Tanso's concentration-response and selectivity profiling services for pharma clients.
• Eurofins DiscoverX: Eurofins-owned CRO that pioneered cell-based GPCR functional assays (PathHunter, HitHunter) and offers broad receptor panels. Direct competitor to Tanso in pharma/biotech GPCR screening services with significantly larger scale.
• Axxam: Italian CRO specializing in cell-based assays for GPCRs and ion channels, including safety and selectivity profiling. Directly comparable services and customer base to Tanso.
• Reaction Biology: CRO providing biochemical and cell-based assay services including GPCR profiling for pharma and biotech. Comparable service model and target customer base to Tanso.
• Meliora Discovery: Functional assay CRO offering mechanism-of-action, selectivity, and off-target profiling for early-stage drug discovery. Comparable services in the same niche assay CRO category.
• NMI TT: German drug-discovery service provider (Natural and Medical Sciences Institute) offering GPCR signaling and cell-based assay services. Comparable niche CRO serving pharma and academic clients.

Broad incumbents

• Charles River Laboratories: Major global CRO with extensive safety pharmacology and discovery services including GPCR work. Overlaps with Tanso's offerings but as part of a much broader enterprise service portfolio.
• Molecular Devices: Provider of GPCR assay instruments, software, and screening platforms (FLIPR, etc.) used across pharma discovery. Comparable GPCR expertise at the platform/tooling layer rather than as a fee-for-service CRO.
• Eurofins Panlabs: Broad-spectrum discovery services CRO within Eurofins, offering safety pharmacology and screening panels. Overlaps with Tanso in pharma/biotech GPCR profiling but operates across a wider portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tanso_bio

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Tanso Biosciences