TNAX Biopharma

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.

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

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

• Monoclonal antibody therapeutics
• Immunoreceptor drug discovery
• Biopharmaceutical licensing
• Inflammatory disease biologics
• Antibody research and development

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Chime BiologicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2025Strategic partnership agreement with Chinese CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization). This marks Chime Biologics' first partnership in Japan.
• University of TsukubacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tnax-biopharma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 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 TNAX Biopharma