Healios raises JPY 3 billion in capital

TOKYO – Healios K.K. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President and CEO: Hardy TS Kagimoto M.D.), a Japanese bioventure company at the forefront of developing innovative therapies utilizing human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology, is pleased to announce that it has successfully raised its target capital of JPY 3 billion (USD $30.6 million).

With completion of its capital campaign, which started in March 2013, Healios K.K. will continue development of promising new treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) by hiPSC derived retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell transplantation under partnership with the following group of pioneering investors:

> Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd.

> Nikon Corporation

> Shin Nippon Biomedical Laboratories, Ltd.

> Shibuya Kogyo Co., Ltd.

> Healios Investment Limited Partnership (Unlimited Liability Partner: DOGAN Investments, Inc.)
> tella, Inc.

The significance of the total raised capital fortifies the company’s momentum in the development of therapeutics utilizing the Nobel Prize-winning hiPSC technology and attests its uncompromising commitment to making groundbreaking strides in the field of regenerative medicine.

Founded in February 24, 2011 Healios K.K. (formerly known as Retina Institute Japan K.K.) aims to commercialize the world’s first pharmaceutical hiPSC derived RPE cell transplantation for treatment of AMD in collaboration with RIKEN, one of the leading research institutes in Japan. The goal of this therapy is to promote the regeneration of retinal function and, consequently, to improve visual function in those affected with retinal degenerative diseases.