The bridge to what comes next.
Taiho Ventures is the corporate venture arm of Taiho Pharmaceutical — a $400M evergreen fund backing breakthrough therapeutics from preclinical through proof of concept, alongside the world's leading institutional life-science investors.
A patient capital partner with strategic intent.
Founded in 2016 and backed by Taiho Pharmaceutical's eight-decade R&D engine, we invest where breakthrough biology meets a credible path to global commercialization — with the patience to develop science on the science's timeline, not the fund's.
Patient Capital
Evergreen $400M fund supported by a global pharmaceutical balance sheet — not a 10-year clock.
Pharma Infrastructure
Portfolio access to Taiho's R&D, clinical, regulatory, and commercialization capabilities.
Asia Gateway
A demonstrated bridge for Western biotech to unlock Japanese and broader Asian markets.
Flexible Structures
Syndicate equity, company creation, build-to-buy, option deals, and pipeline spin-outs.
Ten years on the cap table of the science that matters.
Since launching from Menlo Park in 2016, we have backed 25+ companies alongside the most respected institutional life-science investors — from seed rounds with company creators to syndicated Series B's that became IPOs and strategic acquisitions.
A track record built on patience, scientific rigor, and the conviction that comes with a global pharma partner on the cap table.
Cullinan Pearl — created, funded, returned.
A first-in-class EGFR exon-20 program, built around the science, structured for a strategic exit, and reacquired by Taiho Pharmaceutical when the data was ready.
A textbook proof point for our build-to-buy model: Taiho Ventures co-created the company, contributed pipeline science, syndicated capital with leading institutional partners, and Taiho Pharmaceutical re-acquired the asset to advance development at global scale.
A syndicate of scientific conviction.
25+ companies developing the next generation of therapeutics — from platform innovators to clinical-stage operators — alongside ARCH, GV, MPM, RA Capital, and other top-tier life science investors.
Scientists first, investors second.
A team of PhDs and operators with combined 75+ years inside Taiho Pharmaceutical's R&D and clinical organization — partnering shoulder-to-shoulder with founders on the science, the syndicate, and the strategy.
Sakae Asanuma
Founding President since 2016. Previously President & CEO at Astellas Venture Management.
60+ biotech investments across two decades; majority resolved through IPO or strategic M&A. Architect of Taiho Ventures' build-to-buy and syndicate model.
Seiji Miyahara
Senior Investment Director · 18+ years across discovery, company creation, and venture.
Takaaki Ishii
Early clinical strategy and scientific evaluation across solid and heme oncology.
Hidefumi Kasuga
Nine years inside Taiho Pharmaceutical's EGFR-targeted oncology program.
Takayuki Hirano
15+ years in non-clinical development; lead toxicology on multiple global IND programs.
A direct line to the people making the call.
Tell us about your science, your stage, and the syndicate you're building. The right opportunities reach our investment committee in days, not weeks.
For media inquiries, partnerships, or general questions, please use contact@taihoventures.com.
Aligned
Preclinical → PoC therapeutics in oncology, immunology, urology, or adjacent areas.
Off-strategy
Medical devices, consumer health, digital therapeutics. We'll politely redirect.
Response time
Initial review within 10 business days; first call typically within 3 weeks.
Confidentiality
Your submission is reviewed by the investment team only. No sharing without consent.