VCGT Inc. and Synplogen Co., Ltd., startups who are members of Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC), have begun collaboration on a project to develop gene therapy for “Retinitis Pigmentosa”, an eye disease designated as an intractable disease by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

VCGT Inc. aims to develop and commercialize a gene therapy drug for "Retinitis Pigmentosa." While the global market for gene therapy drugs is expected to grow rapidly in the future, the problem of insufficient supply of investigational drugs necessary for the development and soaring costs have become an issue, and by utilizing the "Gene Therapy Bio-Foundry™ Service" provided by Synplogen Co., Ltd., this collaboration will begin to ensure a stable supply of therapeutic drugs.

Both companies are located within Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster (KBIC), and this is the first case in Japan for startups working together to develop gene therapy drugs within a single startup ecosystem and is a successful example of innovative activity in Kobe City. The two companies will work together in the future, aiming for the early commercialization of a breakthrough gene therapy drug that will give hope to patients suffering from serious diseases.

【VCGT Inc.】

VCGT Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Vision Care Inc., established in 2020 as one of the Vision Care Group's venture companies to develop gene therapy (RIKEN Venture). VCGT Inc. is currently developing its first pipeline, gene therapy for autosomal dominant inherited retinal degenerative diseases using genome editing, aiming to start clinical trials in two years.

Address:	Kobe Eye Center 5F, 2-1-8 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047 Japan
Established:	August 7, 2020
Representative:	Masayo Takahashi, President and CEO
Business:	Gene therapy development, genetic therapy research and development
URL:	https://www.vcgt.jp/english
Contact:	info@vision-care.jp

【Synplogen Co., Ltd.】

Synplogen Co., Ltd. is a synthetic biology startup company founded in 2017 and originated from Kobe University. Utilizing its proprietary DNA synthesis technologies "OGAB® method" and "Combi-OGABTM method", Synplogen is capable of synthesizing ultra-long and complex DNA and constructing DNA libraries with various combinations. Synplogen also provides one-stop solutions for the design, development, and analysis of high-quality, cost-effective viral vectors for gene therapy at Kobe R&D Center, as bio-foundry specializing in gene therapy.

Head Office:	1-1 Rokkodai-cho Nada-ku, Kobe Japan
R&D Center:	Creative Lab for Innovation in Kobe 4F 6-3-7 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0047 Japan
Established:	February 2017
Representative:	Kazuhiko Yamamoto, President and CEO
Business:	Custom DNA synthesis and bio-foundry services for gene therapy
URL:	https://www.synplogen.com/en/
Contact:	info@synplogen.com