EST. 2016 · MENLO PARK
Syndicate capital and operating partners for first-in-class therapeutics in oncology, immunology, and urology.
Taiho Ventures invests for Taiho Pharmaceutical — the R&D-driven specialty pharma that has built oncology, immunology, and urology programs in Japan since 1963.
The corporate venture arm of Taiho Pharmaceutical. $400M under management, actively investing in early-stage private companies strategically relevant to the parent's pipeline. Company creation, spinouts, option-type structures, and pure equity.
A subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings. R&D-driven specialty pharmaceutical company across three fields — oncology, allergy and immunology, urology — and a leading developer of innovative cancer medicines in Japan.
Pre-IND through proof of concept. Oncology, immunology, urology. First-in-class molecules or new biology — not "me-too" programs targeting the same receptor with a different linker.
We syndicate, we operate, and where the asset earns it we underwrite a build-to-buy or option-type structure with our corporate parent. The legacy /investment-criteria page names this explicitly: company creation, spinouts, and option-type investments alongside pure equity.
Selected and led from preclinical through proof of concept. Status reflects current public stage or last reported milestone.
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Editorial portrait — Sakae Asanuma, CFA, MBA, President & CEO.
President & CEO
Founded Taiho Ventures in 2016; sixty-plus biotech investments across Astellas Venture and Yasuda Enterprise.
Astellas Venture Management · Yasuda Enterprise
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Editorial portrait — Seiji Miyahara, PhD, Partner & Senior Investment Director.
Partner & Senior Investment Director
Twelve years inside Taiho Pharmaceutical's oncology pipeline before joining at founding in 2016.
Taiho Pharmaceutical · Oncology · Hokkaido University
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Editorial portrait — Takaaki Ishii, Senior Investment Director.
Senior Investment Director
In-licensed AB928 from Arcus Biosciences at Taiho Pharma; oncology MSL for ABRAXANE and KEYTRUDA in Japan.
Taiho Pharmaceutical · Oncology · Arcus Biosciences (in-licensing)
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Editorial portrait — Hidefumi Kasuga, PhD, Investment Director.
Investment Director
Nine years at Taiho Pharmaceutical advancing EGFR-targeting oncology compounds before joining in 2022.
Taiho Pharmaceutical · EGFR Discovery · University of Tokyo
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Editorial portrait — Takayuki Hirano, PhD, Associate Investment Director.
Associate Investment Director
Fifteen-plus years in non-clinical drug development; lead toxicology on global oncology IND submissions.
Taiho Pharmaceutical · Non-clinical Development · Tokushima University
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