［Health Science domain］
The KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND Invests In Rhelixa, A Leading Epigenome Analysis Company
- CSV
August 23, 2024
Kirin Holdings Company, Limited
TOKYO, August 23, 2024 – Kirin Holdings Company, Limited (Kirin Holdings) announced today that it has invested in Rhelixa, Inc.(https://www.rhelixa.com/) (Rhelixa) through the KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND (KHIF), a corporate venture capital (CVC) fund established jointly with Global Brain Corporation, a leading independent venture capital firm.
Rhelixa is a start-up company that specializes in advanced analysis of genomic data, including epigenomics*1 , and has a wealth of experience in analyzing genomic data in Japan. The company is also working on social implementation of the EpiClock® Test, a testing service that uses its proprietary technology to measure biological age*2 (state of aging). Kirin Holdings will explore future collaboration with Rhelixa, a company with diverse data analysis technologies and know-how, in acquiring knowledge in the Health Science domain.
1 Epigenome is a collection of information that activates or inactivates the function of the genome by modifying the genome (DNA).
2 Biological age is an age based on the condition of the body's cells and tissues. Unlike "calendar age," which represents the number of years elapsed since birth, it reflects bodily functions and the progress of aging.
The Kirin Group has formulated a long-term management concept, Kirin Group Vision 2027, which calls upon the Group to become a global leader in CSV by 2027 by creating value in domains ranging from food & beverages to pharmaceuticals. To achieve this goal, in addition to its existing Food & Beverages and Pharmaceuticals business domains, Kirin Holdings has launched and is fostering a new Health Science domain that will contribute to people's health based on the advanced fermentation and biotechnology that the Kirin Group has cultivated over many years.
3 Creating Shared Value: combined added value for consumers as well as for society at large.
About Rhelixa
Rhelixa is a start-up company from the University of Tokyo that has been engaged in the core business of genome data analysis, including epigenomics. 2023 saw the launch of the new EpiClock® Test business, which visualizes biological age (state of aging) by decoding epigenome information using a proprietary algorithm. Rhelixa's EpiClock® Test has the advantage of incorporating clinical information in addition to Japanese epigenome data into its analysis algorithm, and boasts high analysis accuracy for Japanese people. It is expected to contribute to improving the quality of people's lives through technologies and services that uncover health-related information from the vast amount of genomic and epigenomic data.
About the KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND
Through the KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND, Kirin Holdings intends to invest in startups around the globe that have innovative technologies and business models for resolving health issues, and to leverage their advanced health science technologies and solutions for improving customer experience. By combining the Kirin Group’s wealth of assets and competence in health science with innovations and technologies that startups will bring to partnerships, Kirin Holdings will be better able to bolster its existing Food & Beverages domain as well as step up efforts to launch new businesses in its Health Science domain.
Company Overviews
(1) About the KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND
| Fund name | KIRIN HEALTH INNOVATION FUND (registered as KIRIN and GB Investment Limited Partnership) |
|---|---|
| Primary sector for investment | Startups around the globe operating in the health science domain |
| Established | March 2020 |
| AUM | 5 billion yen |
| Investment period | 10 years |
| General partner | Global Brain Corporation |
(2) About Global Brain
| Company name | Global Brain Corporation |
|---|---|
| Head office | 10-11 Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan |
| President | Yasuhiko Yurimoto |
| Established | January 1998 |
| Primary business | Venture capital business |
| URL | https://globalbrains.com/en |
(3) Outline of Rhelixa
| Company name | Rhelixa Inc. |
|---|---|
| Head office | KDX Ginza East Building 5F, 3-7-2 Irifune, Chuo-ku, Tokyo |
| President | Representative directors of the board: Ryo Nakaki |
| Established | February 2015 |
| Primary business | Contracted omics analysis and consulting services Research and development and provision of services related to anti-aging Development and operation of cloud services to support medical biology research |
| URL | https://www.rhelixa.com/ |
GALLERY
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