Reborna Biosciences, Inc. Achieves Second Milestone in Research Collaboration with Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

2026.08.24

Advancing Toward Development Candidate Selection While Demonstrating the Reproducibility of Reborna's RNA Drug Discovery Platform

Reborna Biosciences, Inc. (Headquarters: Fujisawa, Kanagawa; Representative Director: Koji Fuji; hereinafter "Reborna") is pleased to announce that it has achieved the second research milestone defined in its collaboration agreement with Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Matsumoto, Nagano; Chairman and CEO: Mutsuo Kanzawa; hereinafter "Kissei") in the field of rare diseases. This joint research is being conducted under a collaboration agreement signed in September 2024. Following the achievement of the first milestone in 2025, the companies have now met two major R&D targets as planned within roughly two years of signing the agreement. The latest achievement marks an important milestone in which a promising lead compound-one with strong potential to develop into a new drug candidate-was generated from a hit compound identified through Reborna’s proprietary screening technology. With this milestone achievement, Reborna will receive the corresponding milestone payment under the collaboration agreement, and the research will move into its next stage. Significance of This Milestone This milestone represents the achievement of the lead compound generation goal, building on the successful identification of a hit compound in 2025. Building on this newly identified lead compound, the research will now proceed to the next stage: the creation of clinical candidate compounds through further medicinal chemistry modification. Since the initiation of the collaboration, Reborna and Kissei have worked closely together, steadily building results in line with the original plan. The achievement of consecutive milestones demonstrates that Reborna possesses technology capable of consistently generating drug discovery value, rather than producing a one-time success. Reborna will continue to accelerate the creation of innovative small-molecule drugs targeting RNA, based on its proprietary drug discovery platform that leverages full-length, three-dimensional RNA structures found in the human body. ■Comment from Kissei, Corporate Officer, Research Division Director: Masahiro Hiratochi As a collaboration partner, we are delighted and deeply grateful that, though two years after signing the joint research agreement, we have succeeded in generating a lead compound—our second milestone following the first. We believe that achieving consecutive milestones reflects not only Reborna’s screening technology, but also its outstanding drug discovery capabilities and meticulous research planning. Building on the lead identified this time, Kissei will also participate in advancing drug discovery research that leverages the strength of both companies, with the aim of developing medicines that address unmet needs. ■Comment from Reborna, Representative Director: Koji Fuji Achieving the important drug discovery milestone of generating a lead compound, following the identification of a hit compound in 2025, demonstrates that the proprietary foundational technology underpinning our drug discovery platform is functioning effectively. Everyone involved is delighted to have accomplished this major progress together with Kissei. This research will now move into its next stage, building on the lead compound identified this time to create further value. We will continue to accelerate our R&D efforts to deliver innovative treatments to patients suffering from rare diseases as soon as possible. About Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is a drug discovery and research company committed to providing innovative new medicines to patients worldwide, guided by its management philosophy of “contributing to society through high-quality pharmaceuticals” and “serving society through our members.” We are working to expand our product portfolio in the fields of urology, nephrology, and dialysis, as well as areas with high unmet medical needs. For more information about Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., please visit its website at https://www.kissei.co.jp/e_contents/. About Reborna Biosciences, Inc. Reborna is engaged in drug discovery research for oral drugs that show disease modifying effects through normalizing RNA function by using small molecule drugs with high affinity for RNA. By targeting RNA that governs protein synthesis, we strive to develop game-changing drugs for diseases that have long been considered 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 reborn. For more information, please visit https://rebornabiosciences.com/en/. For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact us at info@rebornabiosciences.com.

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