What Ribomic does

Ribomic (株式会社リボミック, TYO: 4591) is a Tokyo-headquartered, publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company founded in 2003 that develops RNA aptamer-based therapeutics using its proprietary RiboART (Ribomic Aptamer Refined Therapeutics) platform built on the SELEX in vitro selection method. The company focuses on creating aptamers that bind target proteins to inhibit or modulate their function, with claimed advantages over antibody drugs including stronger target binding, lower antigenicity, and chemical synthesis-based manufacturing. Its lead clinical asset, RBM-007 (umedaptanib pegol), is an anti-FGF2 aptamer with dual anti-angiogenic and anti-scarring mechanism that has achieved Phase 2 clinical proof-of-concept in both wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD, US trials SUSHI/TOFU/RAMEN/TEMPURA) and achondroplasia (Japan Phase 2 trials); RBM-007 received Orphan Drug Designation for achondroplasia from Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in April 2025.

The company operates a dual business model combining in-house drug development with strategic licensing and co-development partnerships. It develops candidates to Proof of Concept (POC) in clinical trials and then licenses them to larger pharmaceutical partners — Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Astellas Pharma, Ajinomoto, Fujimoto Pharmaceutical, and AJU Pharmaceutical Korea — for commercialization, generating licensing fees, milestone payments, and future royalties. Government grants from AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development) supplement funding across multiple rare disease programs. Beyond RBM-007, the pipeline includes RBM-006 (anti-Autotaxin for retinal diseases), RBM-011 (anti-IL-21 for pulmonary arterial hypertension), RBM-003 (anti-Chymase for heart failure), RBM-010 (anti-ADAMTS5 for osteoarthritis), RBM-009 (anti-ST2 for severe asthma), and RBM-101 (IgG aptamer for antibody purification in bioprocessing).

Ribomic is founder-led by President & CEO Yoshikazu Nakamura, a Tokyo University Professor Emeritus, and operates with approximately 25 employees (March 2026) from Minato-ku, Tokyo, with a wholly-owned US subsidiary (RIBOMIC USA Inc.). The company maintains an extensive network of academic partnerships with Tokyo University (including a dedicated 'RNA Medical Science' collaboration department at the Institute of Medical Science), Osaka University, Juntendo University, Waseda University, Nihon University, and Masaryk University in the Czech Republic. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is pre-commercial with capital of 872M JPY and capital surplus of 5,156M JPY as of March 2026, having listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market in September 2014.

Name

Ribomic

Legal name

株式会社リボミック

Website

https://ribomic.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ribomic is a Tokyo-based, publicly-traded biopharmaceutical company developing RNA aptamer-based therapeutics using its proprietary RiboART platform, with lead candidate RBM-007 targeting wet AMD and achondroplasia, partnering with major Japanese pharma for commercialization.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biopharmaceutical R&D

akta.pro primary industry

RNA Therapeutics Platforms & Design (sequence design, target ID/validation, AI/bioinformatics) (HLAAADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

RNA Therapeutics Clinical Development (trial design, endpoints, patient stratification) (HLAAADAH), RNA Chemistry & Oligonucleotide Engineering (backbones, modifications, stereochemistry) (HLAAADAE)

Keywords

• Aptamer therapeutics
• Drug discovery platform
• Biopharmaceutical R&D
• Nucleic acid medicines
• Rare disease therapeutics

Headquarters

HQ city

Minato

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Licensing Revenue: Revenue generated through licensing agreements with pharmaceutical companies for drug candidates. The company develops drugs through clinical trials to achieve POC, then licenses out to pharma companies for commercialization, receiving milestone payments and royalties.
2. Co-development Revenue: Revenue from joint research and co-development agreements with pharmaceutical partners. Includes long-term collaborative research contracts and technology licensing arrangements.
3. Government Grants: Development funding received from AMED (Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development) for rare disease drug development programs including achondroplasia. NIBN subsidies for ODD-designated programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ribomic is a biopharmaceutical R&D company that discovers and develops RNA aptamer-based therapeutics using its proprietary RiboART (Ribomic Aptamer Refined Therapeutics) platform, which combines the SELEX method with proprietary knowledge to create drug candidates for diseases with unmet medical needs. The company's lead candidate RBM-007 (umedaptanib pegol) targets FGF2 and is being developed for wet AMD, achondroplasia, and diabetic macular edema. The business model focuses on achieving clinical proof-of-concept in-house and then licensing drug candidates to larger pharmaceutical companies for commercialization.

Product overview

Ribomic is a biopharmaceutical company developing aptamer-based therapeutics using its proprietary RiboART System platform. The company focuses on RNA aptamers that bind to target proteins and inhibit or modulate their function. Core product candidates include RBM-007 (umedaptanib pegol), an anti-FGF2 aptamer with multiple indications including wet AMD (completed Phase 2 in US), achondroplasia (ODD designated in Japan, Phase 2 completed), and diabetic macular edema. The pipeline also includes RBM-006 (anti-Autotaxin for retinal diseases), RBM-011 (anti-IL-21 for PAH), RBM-003 (anti-Chymase for heart failure), RBM-010 (anti-ADAMTS5 for osteoarthritis), and RBM-009 (anti-ST2 for severe asthma). Additionally, RBM-101 is an IgG aptamer separation agent for antibody purification. The company operates through both self-directed drug discovery and collaborative research with pharmaceutical partners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• RiboART System: Core aptamer drug discovery technology platform (Ribomic Aptamer Refined Therapeutics System) for creating novel aptamer drugs

Products and services

• RBM-007 (Umedaptanib pegol) for Wet AMD Anti-FGF2 aptamer therapeutic candidate for exudative (wet) age-related macular degeneration; inhibits both angiogenesis and fibrosis in retinal disease. FGF2 inhibition provides dual anti-angiogenic and anti-scarring action not available with current anti-VEGF therapies. For patients non-responsive to existing VEGF inhibitors and those experiencing scar formation.
• RBM-007 for Achondroplasia Anti-FGF2 aptamer for achondroplasia (ACH), a rare skeletal dysplasia caused by FGFR3 mutations causing dwarfism. Granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) in Japan in April 2025. Demonstrated height growth velocity improvements comparable to approved comparator Voxzogo.
• RBM-007 for Diabetic Macular Edema

Quantifiable outcome

• RBM-007 achieved clinical POC for wet AMD in US Phase 2 trials (TOFU, RAMEN, TEMPURA studies)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (大塚製薬株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term joint research agreement (January 2008) for development and commercialization of aptamer drug candidates. Exclusive license agreement (May 2017) for anti-midkine aptamer. Major strategic partner for aptamer pharmaceutical development.
• Astellas Pharma Inc. (アステラス製薬株式会社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research agreement signed in March 2017 for aptamer-based drug development. One of Japan's largest pharmaceutical companies.
• Ajinomoto Co., Inc. (味の素株式会社)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research agreement (October 2023) for next-generation aptamer pharmaceutical development. Major Japanese food and pharmaceutical company.
• AJU Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (韓国AJU약품株式会社)regionalOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerExclusive license agreement (March 2020) for RBM-007 development and commercialization for exudative age-related macular degeneration in Korea and Southeast Asia. Received license fees and milestone payments.
• Fujimoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (藤本製薬株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLicense agreement (April 2014) for exclusive implementation rights for anti-NGF aptamer. Capital partnership relationship.
• Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (大正製薬株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research agreement (March 2014) for aptamer new drug development.
• Zennip Inc. (全薬工業株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical advisory contract (February 2011) for RNA aptamer drug discovery technology. Capital partnership relationship.
• Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences Limited (三菱商事ライフサイエンス株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration for aptamer pharmaceutical development.
• Aska Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (あすか製薬株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint R&D agreement (February 2021) for drug development collaboration.
• National Center for Global Health and Medicine (国立研究開発法人日本医療研究開発機構/AMED)coreOthersMultiple AMED grants: (1) 2015-2017: Orphan drug pre-commercialization support; (2) 2018-2020: Intractable disease practical application research; (3) 2021-2023: Orphan drug development support. Total support for achondroplasia program spanning over 8 years.
• The University of Tokyo (国立大学法人東京大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research agreement (June 2005) for RNA aptamer drug discovery. Social collaboration department ('RNA Medical Science' department) established (April 2012) at University of Tokyo Institute of Medical Science. Additional joint research agreement (July 2024) for ophthalmic diseases.
• Osaka University (大阪大学医学部)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research demonstrating that RBM-007 added to achondroplasia patient-derived iPSC culture enables differentiation into chondrocytes, and that transplanted differentiated cells form cartilage tissue in immunodeficient mice - key proof for achondroplasia treatment potential.
• University of Tokyo Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology (東京大学医学部眼科学教室)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research for diabetic macular edema treatment using RBM-007.
• National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center (国立循環器病研究センター)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment using RBM-011 (IL-21 targeting aptamer).
• Masaryk University Faculty of Medicine, Czech Republic (チェコ共和国 Masaryk大学医学部)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration with FGF expert Pavel Krejčí, PhD as scientific advisor. FGF pathway specialization for RBM-007 mechanism research.
• Juntendo University (学校法人慈恵大学)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration for aptamer drug development.
• Waseda University Faculty of Science and Engineering (早稲田大学理工学術院)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaboration for aptamer technology development.
• National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (産業技術総合研究所)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint patent filing collaboration for aptamer technology.
• Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine (順天堂大学医学部附属病院)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration for medical research.
• Nihon University Industry-Government IP Center (日本大学産官学連携知財センター)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration for IP management.
• Vitamin C60 Bioresearch Corporation (ビタミンC60バイオリサーチ株式会社)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research agreement (January 2019) for aptamer technology research.
• Ebec Corporation (株式会社イーベック)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research validating RBM-101 IgG aptamer for antibody drug purification applications - demonstrated practical implementation of the aptamer-based separation technology.
• RIBOIC USA Inc.coreOthersWholly-owned US subsidiary with CEO Yoshikazu Nakamura. Established to support US clinical trials and potential US business development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SomaLogic: SomaLogic operates a proprietary aptamer-based proteomics platform (SomaScan) for biomarker discovery and diagnostics. Comparable as a platform company monetizing aptamer technology across multiple applications, though focused on diagnostics rather than therapeutics.
• BioMarin Pharmaceutical: BioMarin markets Voxzogo (vosoritide), the only approved therapy for achondroplasia. Direct competitor to Ribomic's RBM-007 in the achondroplasia indication, where Ribomic must demonstrate clinical differentiation versus Voxzogo's approved +1.7 cm/year height velocity benchmark.
• Archemix Corp. Archemix is an aptamer drug discovery company from which Ribomic licensed SELEX method patents (2006-2008) and shares the same core aptamer-discovery technology platform. Closest technology peer as both companies built businesses around SELEX-based aptamer design.
• Eyetech Pharmaceuticals: Eyetech developed pegaptanib (Macugen), the first FDA-approved aptamer therapeutic for wet AMD. Direct comparator as a nucleic-acid aptamer pioneer in ophthalmology with comparable mechanistic and clinical development pathway to Ribomic's RBM-007.

Broad incumbents

• Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Ionis is a leading nucleic-acid therapeutics company with multiple approved antisense oligonucleotide drugs. Comparable as an established RNA-based therapeutic platform with broader modality scope (ASO) and significantly larger scale than Ribomic's aptamer platform.
• Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Alnylam is the leading siRNA therapeutics company with multiple approved products and a global commercialization infrastructure. Comparable as a mature RNA therapeutics platform with similar licensing-and-royalty business model elements, though operating at substantially greater scale.
• Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Regeneron co-markets EYLEA (aflibercept), the dominant anti-VEGF therapy for wet AMD. Indirect competitor to RBM-007 in the ophthalmology indication and a likely strategic partner or acquirer as Ribomic pursues licensing deals for RBM-007 in wet AMD.

Emerging players

• NoNO Inc. NoNO is a clinical-stage biotech developing therapeutics for central nervous system indications including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Comparable as a small clinical-stage biotech with academic-founder DNA pursuing a licensing-based model, though in a different therapeutic area.
• Regado Biosciences: Regado developed aptamer-based antithrombotic therapeutics using the same SELEX technology lineage as Ribomic. Comparable as a clinical-stage aptamer therapeutic company pursuing licensing-based commercialization, though in cardiovascular indications.

Regional players

• Santen Pharmaceutical: Santen is a Japanese specialty ophthalmology pharmaceutical company with deep Japan/APAC market presence. Comparable as a regional ophthalmology peer and potential commercial partner for RBM-007 in Asian markets. Ribomic's academic advisor (Masatane Nakamura) was formerly Santen's Director of Ophthalmic R&D.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=zxxEX84AWpo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ribomic-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Ribomic