Innovation Kyoto 2021 Investment Limited Partnership" ("KYOTO-icap No.2 Fund"), with Kyoto University Innovation Capital Co.,Ltd. ("Kyoto iCAP") (Headquaters : Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Ko Kusumi) as the unlimited liability partner, has made the additional investment of approximately 200 million yen in Link Therapeutics ("Link Tx") (Headquarters: Sakyo-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Toru Kawamura) through a third-party allocation of new shares for an additional investment of approximately 850 million yen.

Overview of this investment
Link Tx is a biotech company established with the support of Kyoto iCAP, starting from the research results of Assistant Professor Masahiro Shiokawa (Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University). The company is pursuing research and development aimed at elucidating the pathomechanisms of autoantibodies-related diseases and creating innovative therapies targeting autoantibodies.

In particular, we are focusing on "anti-integrin αvβ6 autoantibodies" reported by Kyoto University, which are increased in patients with ulcerative colitis, and are developing medical devices and drugs targeting these antibodies. Autoantibodies as a therapeutic target is an area that has not been explored much in conventional drug discovery, and the Link Tx approach is highly anticipated as a new therapeutic option to get to the root cause of the disease.

In this Series B round, Link Tx was also awarded a grant from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under its "Bridging Seeds B" program. Preparations for clinical trials are now well underway.

Kyoto iCAP decided to make an additional investment in this round based on its high evaluation of the potential of Link Tx's "social implementation of therapies targeting autoantibodies" as a new option for patients who have not responded to existing therapies.

In addition to Kyoto iCAP, ITOCHU Technology Ventures, Kobe University Capital, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, and SMBC Venture Capital are participating in this private placement, whichtotals 850 million yen. Together, they form a strong syndicate to support innovation originating from academia.

About Link Therapeutics:
Establishment : October 4, 2022
Business : Development of therapeutics options targeting autoantibodies, related diseases, and their corresponding targets.
Head Office: 46-29 Yoshida-Shimo-Adachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
Representative Director: Toru Kawamura
HP : https://www.link-therapeutics.com/

About Kyoto University Innovation Capital, Co. Ltd. (Kyoto iCAP):
As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyoto University, KYOTO-iCAP provides investment and other business support to companies that utilize research results generated by Kyoto University and other national universities. We currently operate the Innovation Kyoto 2016 Investment Limited Partnership ("KYOTO -iCAP No. 1 Fund") (established in January 2016) with a total value of 16 billion yen and the KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund (established in January 2021) with a total value of 18.1 billion yen The KYOTO-iCAP No. 1 Fund has a maturity of up to 20 years, and the KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund has a maturity of up to 17 years, enabling long-term support for the practical application of research results from Kyoto University, which has strengths in basic research. The KYOTO-iCAP 2 Fund has a maximum maturity of 17 years. In addition, a portion of the KYOTO-iCAP No. 2 Fund will be invested in ventures originating from national universities other than Kyoto University.

Contact information for inquiries
Kyoto University Innovation Capital, Co. Ltd.
36-1 Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8317, Japan
Osami Kono, Senior Officer, Business Development Department
TEL: 075-753-7588 FAX: 075-753-7592
E-mail: info@kyoto-unicap.co.jp