From diagnosis to treatment and prevention of various diseases, the advent of nanotechnology has offered notable opportunities to transform the field of healthcare. The market for nano-health technology is steadily expanding owing to the growing population and subsequent rising occurrence of diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological diseases. Each cancer patient requires a unique and complex treatment strategy involving multiple approaches, combining surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy. Despite substantial efforts to develop superior therapies for malignant tumors, cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide.
Red Arrow Therapeutics is a rapidly expanding Japanese biotech startup founded in 2021 with the aim of saving cancer patients’ lives by developing innovative drug delivery systems using nanotechnology. While medical science has made significant advances in the twenty-first century, cancer remains one of the most serious medical concerns. Existing immunotherapy is ineffective for 80 percent of solid tumor patients since immune cells have almost died out at the tumor site. Red Arrow Therapeutics aims to provide a treatment option for such patients using cutting-edge nanocapsule solutions.
The drug works like a Trojan horse; nanocapsules containing a potent treatment travel through the body without harming healthy organs, and once at the tumor site, the nanocapsules open and emit the treatment directly at the tumor site. Red Arrow’s nanocapsules offer new hope to the majority of cancer patients who don’t benefit from existing immunotherapy.
The company has already licensed 2 patents from the University of Tokyo and is expanding its intellectual property portfolio worldwide. Red Arrow Therapeutics aims for the US to file first for a speedy global expansion.
In order to deliver the Japan-born technology to the world as efficiently as possible, Red Arrow Therapeutics values having a diverse team of multiple nationalities, genders, and backgrounds. Their growing team so far includes members from North and South America, Europe, and Asia. Combining novel science with the diverse expertise and experience of the team and advisors leading the field, Red Arrow is well-positioned to advance the development of its nanocapsules and improve cancer treatment.
Takuya Miyazaki, CEO and Founder of Red Arrow Therapeutics explain, “We are driven by a mission to develop nanotechnology that effectively treats intractable diseases with minimal toxicity. Our novel polymer protein conjugates stimulate the immune system in tumors while minimizing side effects and maximizing effectiveness. Our drug's novel mechanisms of action provide solutions for a wide spectrum of therapeutic proteins.”
The Path to Success
Red Arrow Therapeutics was founded in 2021 by Takuya Miyazaki, who holds a Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the University of Tokyo. Before establishing the company, Miyazaki worked as a polymer chemist and developed polymer-based nanotechnology. He later discovered that this nanotechnology could be used to address intractable cancers, particularly metastatic cancer, and founded Red Arrow Therapeutics to save lives and bring these nanocapsules to fruition. A number of pharmaceutical manufacturers have shown interest in the nanocapsules and suggested potential collaboration with the firm even prior to preclinical development.
The majority of cancer patients who currently don't benefit from existing immunotherapy have the chance to be cured by the Red Arrow nanocapsules
Red Arrow Therapeutics currently operates in both Japan and the United States, with a strategic focus on expanding opportunities, particularly in the US, particularly in the Boston area, the world-known biotech hub. Upon completion of early clinical trials, the company plans to reach out to international pharmaceutical companies worldwide. The company also plans to expand beyond the US to other nations in Asia, such as China and India, as well as in European countries such as the UK, Germany, and France. Red Arrow Therapeutics has also been selected as the 1 percent of applicants as a cohort member of Skydeck 2023, a well-established US acceleration program held by the University of California, Berkeley. The company raising funds worldwide, not limited to Japan but also in the US and Europe.
Takuya Miyazaki, CEO & Founder, Red Arrow Therapeutics
Takuya Miyazaki, the CEO and Founder of Red Arrow Therapeutics obtained his Ph.D. in bioengineering from the University of Tokyo, where he developed polymer-based nanotechnology for mRNA delivery and chemotherapy during pregnancy. His aim in establishing the company was to develop novel drug delivery systems that could save the lives of cancer patients.