US-headquartered cancer vaccine developer VLP Therapeutics secured $15m yesterday in a series A round that included chemicals producer Konishiyasu and diversified conglomerate Sojitz.
Miyako Capital, a venture capital vehicle for Kyoto University, also participated in the round, as did SK Impact Fund, RJ Fund and private investor Robert G Hisaoka, all three of which were identified as existing backers.
VLP’s lead product candidate is a cancer vaccine but it is also working on prophylactic vaccines for malaria, dengue fever and covid-19. It launched a subsidiary in Japan, where most of the series A investors are based, in 2020.
Sojitz president and CEO Masayoshi Fujimoto said: “I am optimistic that the innovative vaccines now being developed at VLP Therapeutics will make a significant contribution to the treatment of cancer, the prevention of malaria and dengue fever, and the fight against new threats such as covid-19.
“In turn, I believe this will improve health and well-being for all and advance the development of medicine.”
