Tokyo – September 28, 2026 -- SOLA Biosciences Japan GK has secured a grant of approximately 6 billion yen over five years from Japan's Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) to advance SOL-257, a gene therapy candidate targeting the TDP-43 protein implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The award, granted under AMED's Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem, was announced June 5, 2026, and positions SOLA Japan as the company's central development hub for the program.
AMED grant targets a pathology present in 97% of ALS cases
SOL-257 is designed to restore the structure and function of misfolded TDP-43, a protein that becomes mislocalized and aggregated in motor neurons in roughly 97% of ALS cases, according to SOLA. The company describes SOL-257 as a potentially first-in-class, disease-modifying gene therapy built on its proprietary JUMP70 platform.
JUMP70 platform recruits cellular chaperone HSP70 to repair misfolded proteins
The JUMP70 technology pairs a disease-specific targeting domain with a protein quality-control activation domain that engages HSP70, a molecular chaperone involved in protein repair and removal. The approach is engineered to selectively act on misfolded TDP-43 while sparing normally folded protein.
Curie.Bio leads investment syndicate, UTEC joins as follow-on backer
Curie.Bio, an AMED-registered venture capital firm, is serving as lead investor in the program, with UTEC, The University of Tokyo Edge Capital Partners, participating as a follow-on investor. SOLA Japan will coordinate with academic institutions, clinical development organizations, manufacturing partners and investors across Japan and the United States under the grant.
SOLA aims for human proof of concept in both the U.S. and Japan
The AMED-backed program is intended to advance SOL-257 toward human proof of concept simultaneously in the United States and Japan, laying groundwork for global clinical development. Keizo Koya, Ph.D., Founder, CEO and President of SOLA Biosciences Inc. and SOLA Biosciences Japan GK, said the company feels a profound responsibility to advance SOL-257 efficiently given the urgency for ALS patients and their families. Yuta Inokuchi, COO of SOLA Biosciences Japan GK, said the grant enables construction of an integrated Japan-U.S. development platform combining Japan's scientific, clinical and manufacturing strengths with SOLA's global capabilities.