NapaJen Pharma, Inc.
Burlingame, US · 3 known investors
Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oligonucleotide therapeutics using an immune cell-targeted delivery platform.
Also known as Napajen Pharma · NapaJen Pharma Co., Ltd.
Founders & leadership
Board
Investors · 3
Also in the syndicate · 1
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$500K disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2019–2021
▶$500KraisedSep 2021 · 1 investors · PharmaceuticalsRule 506(b)
- Walter OlesiakExecutive Officer, Director
- Kazuhiko NonomuraDirector
- Taro InabaDirector
- Offering amount
- $2M
- Amount sold
- $500K
- First sale
- Aug 2021
- Incorporated
- Corporation, California
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026NapaJen Pharma, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing nucleic acid-based therapeutics built on a proprietary immune cell-targeted oligonucleotide delivery technology. The platform addresses common obstacles to oligonucleotide drug development — high instability, low bioavailability and poor cellular uptake — by complexing oligonucleotides with schizophyllan, a beta-glucan that binds Dectin-1, a cell surface receptor expressed on antigen-presenting immune cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages. This enables stable and selective delivery of oligonucleotide compounds to cells that regulate immune responses.
The company applies the platform to its own pipeline and to partner programs. Its lead candidate, NJA-730, combines an anti-CD40 small interfering RNA (siRNA) with the beta-glucan delivery technology as a novel immunosuppressive agent; a Phase 1 study begun in autumn 2018 in Australia evaluated intravenous safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics and CD40 gene suppression, and the company reported positive Phase 1 results in October 2020. Target areas identified for the platform include autoimmune diseases, cancer, transplantation and vaccines. In preclinical models, loading different oligonucleotide drugs onto the delivery platform has supported both precision-targeted immunosuppression and controlled immuno-stimulation, described by the company under the terms "NapaJen DDS" and "Dendulation" (dendritic cell modulation). The company also states that its in-house platform shortens the time needed to identify new nucleic acid drug candidates.
Founding story
The company was founded in 2004 as a California corporation and built a proprietary platform technology for the stable, selective delivery of oligonucleotide compounds to immune cells.
Business model
The company develops proprietary drug candidates based on its oligonucleotide delivery platform while also positioning the platform for use by biotechnology and pharmaceutical partners, either through collaborations to create new oligonucleotide therapeutics against partner-identified target genes or by applying its delivery technology to partners' existing oligonucleotide candidates.
Traction
Lead candidate NJA-730 entered a Phase 1 clinical trial in Australia in autumn 2018, with positive Phase 1 results announced in October 2020. The company raised a $12.4 million Series C financing in January 2019 from INCJ, Mitsui & Co. Global Investment and P&D Directions.
Latest developments
In a December 2022 notice, the company stated that Immunohelix Co., Ltd. was established in January 2022; contact details for both NapaJen Pharma (Seattle) and Immunohelix (Tokyo) are listed together.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
A clinical-stage developer in the nucleic acid therapeutics field that also offers its immune cell-targeted delivery technology to other drug developers as a partnering platform.
Technology
The delivery vehicle is based on schizophyllan, a beta-glucan that specifically binds Dectin-1, a receptor on antigen-presenting immune cells including dendritic cells and macrophages. Complexing oligonucleotides with schizophyllan is intended to give stable, selective uptake into immune cells, overcoming instability, low bioavailability and poor cellular uptake of naked oligonucleotides. The same platform is used to load different oligonucleotide payloads, enabling either immunosuppressive or immuno-stimulatory effects in preclinical models, and the company reports the in-house platform reduces candidate identification timelines.
Go-to-market
Internal drug development advanced through clinical trials, combined with partnering and collaborative research with industry and academia around the delivery platform.
Patients with immune-related conditions including autoimmune diseases, cancer, transplantation and vaccine indications, and biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies seeking delivery solutions for oligonucleotide therapeutics.
Geography
Incorporated in California and previously associated with Burlingame, California; the company website lists an address in Seattle, Washington, and announcements have been issued from Tokyo. Affiliated Immunohelix Co., Ltd. is located in Koganei, Tokyo, Japan, and the NJA-730 Phase 1 trial was conducted in Australia.
History
NapaJen Pharma was founded in 2004 as a California corporation and developed a platform in which oligonucleotide compounds are selectively delivered to immune cells. It began Phase 1 testing of NJA-730 in Australia in autumn 2018 and closed a $12.4 million Series C round in January 2019. Kenji Arima became CEO of NapaJen Pharma, Inc. in August 2019, President of NapaJen Pharma Co., Ltd. in September 2019 and a director of NapaJen Pharma, Inc. in November 2019. The company reported positive Phase 1 results in October 2020 and announced the establishment of Immunohelix Co., Ltd. in January 2022.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Timeline · 8
launches, deals, and filingsThe company announced (in a December 2022 news item) that Immunohelix Co., Ltd., based in Koganei, Tokyo, was established in January 2022.
Company announced positive results from the Phase 1 clinical trial of its novel RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic.
An article about NapaJen appeared in the January/February 2020 issue of the trade publication Drug Development & Delivery.
Series C financing led by existing investor INCJ, Ltd., with participation from existing investor Mitsui & Co. Global Investment and new investor P&D Directions Inc.; proceeds earmarked to complete Phase 1 clinical development of NJA-730 and prepare for further development.
$12.4M source ↗
Phase 1 clinical study of NJA-730, evaluating safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and CD40 gene suppression following intravenous administration, began in autumn 2018 in Australia.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- NapaJen Pharma, Inc. Closes US$12.4 Million Series C ...napajen.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does NapaJen Pharma, Inc. do?
- Clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing oligonucleotide therapeutics using an immune cell-targeted delivery platform.
- Who are NapaJen Pharma, Inc.'s investors?
- NapaJen Pharma, Inc.'s investors include Mitsui Global Investment, Remiges Ventures, Inc..
- How much funding has NapaJen Pharma, Inc. raised?
- NapaJen Pharma, Inc. has disclosed $500K raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is NapaJen Pharma, Inc. headquartered?
- NapaJen Pharma, Inc. is headquartered in Burlingame, US.