MPower Partners Fund has invested in Cyto-Facto Inc., a CMO/CDMO specializing in cell and gene therapy, aiming to enhance manufacturing processes while focusing on ESG principles.

Target Company Overview

MPower Partners Fund, Japan's pioneering ESG-focused global venture capital fund, has made a significant investment in Cyto-Facto Inc., located in Kobe, Japan. Cyto-Facto operates as both a Contract Manufacturing Organization (CMO) and a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), specializing in cell and gene therapy treatments. By collaborating closely with pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, Cyto-Facto is dedicated to the swift and reliable delivery of innovative cell and gene therapy products intended to improve lives both in Japan and internationally.

Founded in April 2023 from the Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation (FBRI), Cyto-Facto is part of the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster, a significant initiative developed in response to the devastation caused by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. With the support of the Research & Development Center for Cell Therapy (RDC), which was established in 2015, Cyto-Facto has emerged as a leader in the CGT domain. Notably, under the leadership of Shin Kawamata, MD, PhD, the RDC became the first institution in Asia to develop and manufacture Novartis' Kymriah, an innovative CART-T cell therapy.

Industry Overview in Japan

The regenerative medicine sector in Japan has witnessed burgeoning growth, attracting global attention as technologies evolve from conventional symptom-focused treatment to innovative regenerative therapies. Recent trends indicate that many medical p