January 25, 2023

KDDI Corporation

KDDI invested in Kirilys Therapeutics, Inc. (CEO: BT Slingsby; hereinafter "Kirilys"), a pharmaceutical company engaged in the development of cancer treatments that utilize antibody drugs and small-molecule drugs, through KDDI Open Innovation Fund III (operated by Global Brain Corporation), which aims to incubate new business co-creations with promising venture startups.

As the number of cancer patients increase year by year, the small number of effective cancer treatments and limited therapy options pose a major challenge. Against this backdrop, Kirilys is developing therapeutic treatments for intractable cancers, which have a high anti-tumor efficacy for a wide range of cancer types, as well as minimal side effects, through pre-clinical and Phase I clinical trials.

Through this investment, KDDI will support the business growth of Kirilys in their pursuit of developing treatments for intractable cancers.

As "the company that customers feel closest to," KDDI will continue to promote business co-creation through investment in promising startup companies, and create new business models together with customers and partners.

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• ■Overview of Kirilys Therapeutics, Inc.

  • (1)

    Company name: Kirilys Therapeutics, Inc.

  • (2)

    Headquarters: California, United States

  • (3)

    Founded: 2021

  • (4)

    Business activities: Development of treatments for intractable cancers

  • (5)

    CEO: BT Slingsby

  • (6)

    URL: https://kirilys.com/

• ■About KDDI Open Innovation Fund

  KDDI Open Innovation Fund is a corporate venture fund that supports a broad range of venture companies. The currently active KDDI Open Innovation Fund III focuses on the areas of AI, IoT, data marketing, fintech, B2B SaaS, and entertainment with a total operating fund of 20 billion yen.