TNAX Biopharma
TNAX Biopharma is a Japanese biopharmaceutical company developing antibody therapeutics that target immunoreceptors and their ligands. Its pipeline includes anti-DNAM-1 (IBD, licensed to Formation Bio/Riverview Bio) and anti-CD300A (acute ischemic stroke) candidates originating from University of Tsukuba research.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TNAX Biopharma does
TNAX Biopharma Corporation is a privately held Japanese biopharmaceutical company founded in March 2018 and headquartered in Tsukuba, Japan (with a Tokyo business development office). The company discovers and develops monoclonal antibody therapeutics that target immunoreceptors and their ligands, leveraging intellectual property exclusively licensed from the University of Tsukuba and originating from the laboratory of scientific co-founder Dr. Akira Shibuya, a world-renowned immunologist. TNAX operates with 101–250 employees and runs a capital-light, academic-to-industry model in which it conducts joint research with the university and licenses its candidates to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.
The company's pipeline comprises three assets built on two mechanistic platforms. The first asset, TNAX101A (now RVW101), is an anti-DNAM-1 (CD226) monoclonal antibody that suppresses co-stimulatory signaling and effector T-cell activation while preserving regulatory T-cell stability, positioning it as a low-immunosuppression-risk treatment for inflammatory bowel disease; it was licensed worldwide to IMIDomics Inc. in September 2023 and sublicensed to Formation Bio in July 2025, with clinical development run by Riverview Bio (initial focus ulcerative colitis). The second asset, TNAX103, is a humanized anti-CD300A antibody functioning as an innate immune checkpoint modulator for acute ischemic stroke, intended to prevent futile recanalization and no-reflow after endovascular thrombectomy. A third preclinical candidate for acute kidney injury and chronic organ failure was announced in August 2025 in collaboration with the University of Tsukuba.
TNAX's revenue model is licensing-driven: the company receives upfront payments, development and sales milestones, and royalties from its pharmaceutical partners, supplemented by research-related funding from joint research agreements. The company has no commercial product, no disclosed pricing, and disclosed equity funding of approximately $9.0 million across two Series 2 rounds in 2018 and 2019 from JAFCO, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and Nissay Capital. Recent strategic activity includes a December 2025 partnership with Chinese CDMO Chime Biologics for manufacturing, underscoring a partner-dependent commercial pathway rather than a direct sales organization.
TNAX Biopharma firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TNAX Biopharma
- Legal name
- TNAX Biopharma Corporation
- Website
- https://tnaxbio.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- TNAX Biopharma is a Japanese biopharmaceutical company developing antibody therapeutics that target immunoreceptors and their ligands. Its pipeline includes anti-DNAM-1 (IBD, licensed to Formation Bio/Riverview Bio) and anti-CD300A (acute ischemic stroke) candidates originating from University of Tsukuba research.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TNAX Biopharma industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Biopharmaceuticals (Antibody Therapeutics)
- SIC
- Biological Products, (No Disgnostic Substances) (2836)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs) (HLAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering) (HLAAAIAB), Neurology & CNS Specialty Pharmaceuticals (HLAIACAC), Immunology & Inflammation Pharmaceuticals (HLAIAAAD)
Keywords
Where TNAX Biopharma is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
TNAX Biopharma business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Licensing Revenue: TNAX generates revenue through licensing its drug candidates to pharmaceutical partners. The anti-DNAM-1 mAb (TNAX101A) was licensed to IMIDomics Inc. in September 2023, with IMIDomics receiving exclusive worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, commercialize and sublicense the candidates. Revenue comes from upfront payments, milestone payments, and royalties on commercialization.
- Research Partnerships: Joint research agreements with academic institutions (University of Tsukuba) and potentially pharmaceutical companies for drug discovery and development, which may include research funding and development milestones.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
TNAX Biopharma product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TNAX Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics targeting immunoreceptors and their ligands for intractable inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. Its core assets include an anti-DNAM-1 (CD226) antibody for inflammatory bowel disease and an anti-CD300A antibody positioned as an innate immune checkpoint modulator for acute ischemic stroke. The company monetizes these candidates primarily through out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.
Product overview
TNAX Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibody therapeutics targeting immunoreceptors and their ligands. The company operates two core products: TNAX101A/RVW101 (anti-DNAM-1 antibody for inflammatory bowel disease, licensed to Formation Bio/Riverview Bio) and TNAX103 (anti-CD300A antibody for acute ischemic stroke). A third pipeline candidate for acute kidney injury and chronic organ failure is in preclinical development. All candidates leverage discoveries from scientific co-founder Akira Shibuya at University of Tsukuba.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- RVW101 (formerly TNAX101A) — anti-DNAM-1 monoclonal antibody Anti-DNAM-1 (CD226) humanized monoclonal antibody therapeutic for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including ulcerative colitis. Inhibits co-stimulatory signaling and effector T cell activation while improving Treg stability and suppressive function, designed for autoimmune disease treatment with low risk of serious infections.
- TNAX103 — anti-CD300A monoclonal antibody (innate immune checkpoint modulator) Humanized anti-CD300A monoclonal antibody that functions as an innate immune checkpoint modulator. Prevents damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) from developing into inflammation by efficiently removing PS-exposing dead/dying cells via efferocytosis. Lead indication: acute ischemic stroke (penumbra salvage, addressing no-reflow phenomenon and futile recanalization).
- Novel drug candidate for acute kidney injury and subsequent chronic organ failure Preclinical drug candidate jointly developed by TNAX Biopharma and the University of Tsukuba targeting acute kidney injury and prevention of subsequent chronic organ (kidney) failure by suppressing organ fibrosis.
Quantifiable outcome
- Anti-DNAM-1 antibody shows low risk of serious infections compared to existing therapies
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use TNAX Biopharma
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
TNAX Biopharma technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
TNAX Biopharma partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Chime BiologicscoreStrategic partnership agreement with Chinese CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization). This marks Chime Biologics' first partnership in Japan.
- University of TsukubacoreJoint research partnership with Professor Akira Shibuya's lab. TNAX leverages intellectual property rights exclusively licensed from the university. The scientific co-founder is Dr. Akira Shibuya, Professor at University of Tsukuba.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TNAX Biopharma competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PeptiDream: Japanese clinical-stage biopharma leveraging a proprietary discovery platform (Peptide Discovery Platform System) to generate novel therapeutic candidates licensed to global pharma. Comparable to TNAX in Japan-based academic spinout origins, platform-driven pipeline, and pharma licensing GTM motion.
- JCR Pharmaceuticals: Japanese biopharmaceutical company developing biologic therapies including antibodies and recombinant proteins for rare diseases and CNS indications. Comparable to TNAX in Japan-based operations, biologics modality, and pipeline focused on inflammation and CNS.
- argenx: Clinical-to-commercial stage antibody therapeutics company developing Fc-engineered antibodies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including IBD-adjacent indications. Directly comparable to TNAX in modality (monoclonal antibodies), therapeutic area (immune-mediated inflammatory diseases), and licensing/out-licensing business model.
- MacroGenics: Clinical-stage biopharma developing proprietary monoclonal antibodies and bispecifics for autoimmune and oncology indications. Comparable to TNAX in antibody platform, inflammation/immunology focus, and clinical-stage licensing model.
Emerging players
- Compass Therapeutics: Clinical-stage antibody company with a pipeline spanning oncology and autoimmune disease. Comparable to TNAX in clinical-stage antibody platform and inflammation/autoimmune focus.
Regional players
- AnGes: Japanese clinical-stage biopharma focused on DNA-based and gene-therapy approaches for cardiovascular and inflammatory conditions. Comparable as a Japan-headquartered clinical-stage biotech with academic origins and similar employee scale.
- Heartseed: Japanese clinical-stage biotech developing regenerative medicine therapies for heart failure, spun out of academic research. Comparable as a Japan-based academic spinout biotech at similar clinical stage and headcount profile.
- Modalis Therapeutics: Japanese clinical-stage biotech with a platform-based approach to generating novel therapeutic candidates. Comparable as a Japan-based academic spinout with platform-driven pipeline and pharma partnerships.
Others
- Chugai Pharmaceutical: Japan's leading antibody therapeutics company and a Roche subsidiary, with major franchises in immunology and inflammation including IBD (e.g., Actemra). Comparable to TNAX in antibody modality and inflammation therapeutic area, though at vastly larger commercial scale.
Broad incumbents
- Kyowa Kirin: Japanese specialty pharmaceutical company with established antibody therapeutics franchise focused on immunology, inflammation, and CNS. Comparable to TNAX in therapeutic area overlap (IMIDs, neurology) and Japan base, but operates at commercial scale with broader portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TNAX Biopharma social profiles
Digital presenceTNAX Biopharma financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TNAX Biopharma leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
TNAX Biopharma funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors3 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TNAX Biopharma M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TNAX Biopharma
What does TNAX Biopharma do?
TNAX Biopharma is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers and develops novel monoclonal antibody therapeutics targeting immunoreceptors and their ligands for intractable inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. Its core assets include an anti-DNAM-1 (CD226) antibody for inflammatory bowel disease and an anti-CD300A antibody positioned as an innate immune checkpoint modulator for acute ischemic stroke. The company monetizes these candidates primarily through out-licensing to pharmaceutical partners for clinical development and commercialization.
Is TNAX Biopharma a public or private company?
TNAX Biopharma is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was TNAX Biopharma founded?
TNAX Biopharma was founded in 2018. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is TNAX Biopharma based?
TNAX Biopharma is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does TNAX Biopharma make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Licensing Revenue is the primary driver. The others are research Partnerships.
Who are TNAX Biopharma's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PeptiDream, JCR Pharmaceuticals, argenx and MacroGenics. Compass Therapeutics is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are AnGes, Heartseed and Modalis Therapeutics. Chugai Pharmaceutical is listed as an others. Kyowa Kirin is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does TNAX Biopharma have an API?
No public API is recorded for TNAX Biopharma.
What industry is TNAX Biopharma in?
TNAX Biopharma's product category is Biopharmaceuticals (Antibody Therapeutics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAAAAAA, Monoclonal Antibody Therapeutics (mAbs), with a secondary code of HLAAAIAB, Antibody Discovery & Engineering Platforms (display tech, bispecifics, Fc engineering). Its SIC code is 2836.