Cambridge, UK and Ahmedabad, India

o2h Discovery is pleased to announce the launch of the latest edition of the o2h Kickstarter: Japan to support early-stage Japanese biotech companies by partnering with them to advance their drug discovery journey through dedicated chemistry expertise.

At o2h Discovery, our mission has always been to build bridges across geographies and accelerate biotech innovation. For more than two decades, we have had the privilege of collaborating with leading Japanese innovators. These collaborations have been both an honor and an inspiration, strengthening our belief in the immense potential of the Japanese biotech ecosystem.

Speaking on the launch of Kickstarter’s Japanese edition, Sunil Shah, Co-founder, o2h Discovery, said:

 

Through the o2h Kickstarter program, we have supported over 30 early-stage biotech start-ups globally in accelerating discovery and helped them secure critical follow-on funding. Japan, with its exceptional scientific talent and innovative ecosystem, presents a unique opportunity to nurture breakthrough ideas. With our latest Kickstarter Japan edition, we aim to provide discovery expertise and global connectivity to help Japanese start-ups bring their science to the world stage. At o2h, our mission is to ensure that transformative biotech ideas are given the resources and partnerships they need to transform human health.

Japanese biotech startups continue to be at the forefront of global innovation, advancing healthcare through cutting-edge research in AI-driven discovery, precision medicine, rare diseases, and gene therapies. Their pioneering work reflects a future where science and compassion converge to deliver life-changing treatments to patients. Through the Kickstarter program, we are proud to contribute to these efforts and to collaborate with Japanese innovators as they progress toward critical development milestones. To know more about the program, please visit the official website: o2h Kickstarter: Japan

Backing Japan’s Early-Stage Biotech Innovators

We understand that navigating the early stages of biotech funding can be challenging, especially for start-ups working to secure their first investment and generate critical seed data. While some raise substantial funding early, many have found real value in the o2h Discovery Kickstarter Award, which has helped several portfolio companies progress successfully into larger rounds.

The drug discovery is a complex and resource-intensive journey, often requiring the synthesis and screening of thousands of molecules to identify a promising “hit.” This process can be time-consuming and costly for early-stage biotech companies. The o2h Kickstarter Award has been developed to support small-molecule-focused startups in navigating these challenges, providing dedicated chemistry resources to help accelerate progress toward their next funding milestone.

Global Track Record of Success

Since its inception in 2022, the Kickstarter competition has supported numerous biotech start-ups worldwide. Some of the previous winners include:

• Breakloop Bio – developing therapeutics for chronic diseases, including ALS, TBI, Long-COVID, and Alzheimer’s.
• Persephoni Bio (Innovira Tx) – transforming early-stage life science technologies into successful biotech ventures through a venture studio model.
• Psy Tx – advancing therapies for neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Awen Oncology – pioneering oncology treatments targeting proteins unique to cancer cells for improved efficacy and reduced side effects.
• Serenatis Bio – developing novel drug candidates for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
• Trimtech Tx – developing a differentiated portfolio of TRIMTACs® and TRIMGLUEs®, potent, highly specific degraders designed to remove toxic proteins and treat challenging CNS and inflammatory disorders.
• Adularia – developing novel small molecule cancer immunotherapies that activate tumor-residing macrophages to trigger potent anti-tumor immune responses.
• Type 6 Tx – developing next-generation kinase inhibitors, including CDK2i compounds, that overcome resistance by driving tumor-selective apoptotic cell death.

And many more…

Each of these start-ups benefited from the comprehensive support offered through the Kickstarter Award, including:

Collectively, these benefits have enabled our Kickstarter winners to accelerate their discovery programs and move closer to the clinic, bringing new therapies to patients faster.

Voices from some of the Past winners:

Past winners of the Kickstarter have highlighted how the program provided critical technical support and resources at a pivotal time in their journey, enabling them to generate high-quality data, validate their science, and advance towards funding milestones.

How to Apply

Applications for o2h Kickstarter Japan are now open. Interested startups can submit their applications via the following link: o2h Kickstarter: Japan Registration

All applications will be reviewed by the Kickstarter Committee, which includes:

1. Sunil Shah, Co-founder
2. Andy Morley, Chief Scientific Officer
3. Gayathri Sadasivam, VP, Head of Biology
4. Hemal Soni, VP, Head of Chemistry

📌 This is a time-limited opportunity for Japanese seed and early-stage biotech startups looking to accelerate their discovery journey. Submit your application today.

---

Editor Notes: 

About o2h Kickstarter Award:

Started in 2022, the o2h Kickstarter Award has been designed to provide additional chemistry support to small molecule-focused biotechnology companies that have raised initial funding and are seeking to advance their discovery programs. Winners receive access to a dedicated team of chemists and end-to-end project management support, working closely with them to generate high-quality chemical matter aligned with their project milestones. 

To date, it has successfully completed 7+ editions and has awarded more than 30 biotech start-ups worldwide (UK, Australia, Israel, Italy, USA), enabling early-stage ventures to advance their pipelines more efficiently and cost-effectively.

About o2h Discovery: 

Established in 2003, o2h Discovery (o2h) is a multi-award-winning preclinical CRO with a multi-modality integrated drug discovery platform, supporting small molecule synthesis, PR&D, and scale-up. With a 750+ strong team of biologists and chemists across Cambridge, UK, and Ahmedabad, India, we execute hit-to-lead optimization programs, enabling patent and IND filings. Our expertise spans discovery chemistry, biology, DMPK, and end-to-end preclinical project management.

We have experienced scientists who deliver a comprehensive range of custom peptide synthesis services, from small quantities of a few milligrams to larger amounts at the gram scale. Our capabilities go beyond standard fast custom peptide synthesis services (with our o2h Peptide Guarantee program), offering specialised peptide modification services to customise and optimise peptides for diverse drug discovery programs. Our clients include large pharma companies, leading academic institutions, and biotech firms. 

o2h Discovery’s large team of experts also delivers high-quality services, covering DMPK, scale-up/PR&D, PROTAC’s (Protac Synthesis Services), LNPs, various assays, including ChamelogK, supporting organisations of all sizes with cost-effective solutions from target validation all the way to IND-enabling studies.

The DNA of o2h Discovery is centred around the nurturing of its people, values, and culture. It reflects in the way we work with each other, as well as our collaborators and partners. 

Media Contact
Mayank Gupta
Sr. Executive Marketing
mayank.gupta@o2h.com