Reborna Raises 770 Million Yen to Advance RNA-Targeted Small Molecule Drug Discovery

– Accelerating pipeline development toward early clinical milestones –

Reborna Biosciences, Inc. (Headquarters: Kanagawa, Japan; CEO: Koji Fuji, hereafter ”Reborna”), a biotech company specializing in innovative treatments for high unmet medical needs (Note 1), including genetic rare diseases, has raised 770 million yen through a third-party allotment of shares to existing and new investors.

Strengthening Our Pipeline to Advance RNA-Targeted Drug Discovery

Since its founding in 2018, Reborna has been engaged in the research and development of orally available RNA-targeted small molecules, with a primary focus on genetic rare diseases. Our proprietary approach goes beyond traditional methods that focus on disease-causing proteins by directly engaging RNA, the blueprint for protein synthesis, enabling the development of fundamental and effective treatments for rare and intractable diseases that have long been difficult to treat. As a result, RNA-targeted small molecule has attracted growing interest from pharmaceutical companies in Japan and around the world, and the field is poised for significant growth as a next-generation therapeutic modality.

Reborna’s drug discovery platform faithfully reproduces full-length, three-dimensional RNA structures as they exist in the human body. This breakthrough enables the identification of small molecules with exceptional RNA selectivity, offering strong therapeutic potential with reduced risk of off-targets. The strength of our technology and pipeline has been validated through strategic research and licensing agreements with leading pharmaceutical companies, including Biogen (April 2021), Kissei Pharmaceutical (September 2024), and Ono Pharmaceutical (March 2025).

We have recently identified clinical candidate compounds with superior profiles to those of competing programs across several of our internal pipelines, including frontotemporal dementia, and are now preparing for preclinical development. The funds raised will be used to advance these preclinical studies and further strengthen our core drug discovery capabilities.

Looking Ahead

Reborna is committed to accelerating the development of RNA-targeted small molecule therapeutics with the goal of progressing toward clinical trials and ultimately bringing transformative therapeutic options to patients. By advancing innovative, orally available treatments for diseases with limited or no therapeutic options, particularly genetic rare diseases affecting millions, we aim to deliver a meaningful clinical impact, improve patient outcomes, and create long-term value for the healthcare ecosystem and our stakeholders.

Comments from Investors

[New Investors]

Kenta Okajima, Investment Department, Yokohama Capital Co., Ltd.
We are delighted to join Reborna as a new investor and to partner with its exceptional team and fellow shareholders. We believe this funding round will further accelerate the company’s mission to deliver new treatments to patients suffering from hereditary rare diseases. Yokohama Capital will continue to support Reborna’s growth by leveraging the Bank of Yokohama Group’s network to help enhance its corporate value.

Yoshio Mii, Growth Manager of UntroD Capital Japan Co., Ltd.
Reborna has developed a proprietary screening technology that enables the identification of small molecule compounds with high RNA selectivity by reproducing the in vivo structure of RNA. While small molecule drugs are widely used in pharmaceuticals due to their ease of synthesis and oral availability, their compatibility with RNA—owing to RNA’s relatively simple chemical structure compared to proteins—has been limited, resulting in very few RNA-targeted small molecule developed to date. Reborna’s technology overcomes this challenge, enabling the development of high-efficacy, low-toxicity, and convenient therapeutics that stand apart from existing drugs and can also address diseases with no available treatment options. Through this investment, we are proud to join other shareholders in supporting Reborna in its mission to transform the global healthcare landscape.

Shuichi Ida, President of Gogin Capital Co., Ltd.
We see strong future potential in Reborna’s proprietary drug discovery platform, which offers the promise of more efficient drug development and broad applicability across a wide range of diseases. We are delighted to support the company through this investment and to walk alongside them in the pursuit of a more advanced healthcare future. We hope this partnership will lead to better treatment options for patients suffering from rare diseases and their families.

Gen Funahashi, General Partner of ICMG Ventures Pte. Ltd.
Reborna is a company making a significant social impact by transforming RNA drug discovery with its proprietary screening technology, which is based on the three-dimensional structures of RNA found in the human body. The company has already entered into licensing agreements with multiple major pharmaceutical companies, highlighting its strong market potential. As ICMG Group, whose purpose is “Co-creating the future with like-minded partners from around the world,” we are committed to supporting Reborna’s sustainable growth by accelerating collaboration with global players as a business co-creation partner.

[Existing Investors]

Naoki Akiyama, Representative Director and President of Nissay Capital Co., Ltd.
We are pleased to continue supporting Reborna with an additional investment, following our participation in the previous funding round. Since our last investment, the development of their lead program has made significant progress, and several new collaborative research projects with pharmaceutical companies have been initiated. With this round of funding, we anticipate that the company’s drug discovery programs will accelerate further, and we remain committed to supporting their efforts to deliver breakthrough treatments to patients as soon as possible.

Yutaro Kasai, General Partner of Angel Bridge Inc.
We are pleased to participate again in this funding round following our previous investment. Reborna’s RNA-targeted drug discovery platform continues to attract strong interest from both global pharmaceutical giants and leading domestic companies. In the past year alone, the company has secured three new partnerships, including major pipeline deals. Furthermore, they have identified compounds with clear advantages over competitors. We highly value their business development and technological capabilities and are committed to supporting their continued impact on the lives of patients worldwide.

Hiromi Edahiro, Representative Director, CEO & CFO of Toho Holdings Co., Ltd.
Reborna ’s proprietary RNA-targeted drug discovery platform holds the potential to become a breakthrough technology, capable of tackling drug targets that have been difficult to address with conventional approaches. Through this investment, Toho Holdings aims to support Reborna’s research efforts in developing orally available small-molecule drugs by leveraging our logistics and distribution capabilities. We look forward to the emergence of new therapeutics in areas of high unmet medical need, such as cancer and genetic diseases.

Comment from Koji Fuji, CEO of Reborna Biosciences, Inc.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our existing investors for their continued trust and support, as well as to the new investors who have joined us in this funding round. The capital raised will be used to accelerate the preclinical development of our proprietary pipeline, aiming to enter clinical trials at the earliest feasible stage.

Recently, we achieved a breakthrough by identifying small molecule compounds that demonstrated high biological activity in in vivo studies—compounds that would have been difficult, if not impossible, to discover using conventional screening technologies employed by others in the field. This breakthrough is expected to significantly increase our probability of success in drug discovery and expand the scope of treatable diseases.

As a pioneer in RNA-targeted small molecule drug discovery, we remain deeply committed to delivering transformative therapies to patients and their families, who are waiting for new treatment options, and to making a meaningful and lasting contribution to the future of healthcare.

About Reborna Biosciences, Inc.
Reborna is engaged in drug discovery research for oral drugs that exhibit disease-modifying effects by normalizing RNA function through the use of small molecule drugs with high affinity for RNA. By targeting RNA that governs protein synthesis as a drug discovery target, we aim to provide drugs that offer a novel approach to diseases that have previously proven difficult to treat. We will contribute to society by providing new drugs that enable patients suffering from rare genetic diseases and their families to feel that they have been given a new lease of life.
For more information, please visit http://rebornabiosciences.com.
Contact form: https://rebornabiosciences.com/contact

Note 1: Unmet Medical Needs
“Unmet Medical Needs” refers to conditions for which there are no effective or satisfactory treatments available. These include severe diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s disease, as well as many rare disorders. Despite strong demand from patients and healthcare providers, adequate treatment options remain scarce for these conditions.