ITOCHU Invests in United Immunity, Co., Ltd.New

ITOCHU Corporation (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Keita Ishii, President & COO; hereinafter "ITOCHU") announced today that it has invested in United Immunity, Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Masato Kishida, CEO; hereinafter "United Immunity") through a private placement.

Many patients' options for the treatment of intractable diseases, including cancer, are still limited. For solid tumors in particular, there are still serious challenges with conventional immunotherapies and cell therapies, such as achieving sufficient efficacy, addressing treatment resistance and side effects, and containing manufacturing costs. This in turn demands the development of advanced medical technologies that can offer new treatment options tailored to individual patients.

United Immunity has developed the Myeloid Targeting Platform™, its proprietary nanoparticle technology enabling the selective delivery of therapeutic agents to target organs and cells, including immune cells in the body such as macrophages and dendritic cells.^*1 Utilizing this technology, United Immunity is developing an in vivo CAR-macrophage therapy designed to transform immune cells in the body into cells that attack cancer cells. Recognizing the value of this advanced initiative, the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) has selected it for its Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem (V-eco).^*2 By combining the JPY 2.2 billion in private-sector funding raised through this capital increase and a V-eco grant of up to JPY 2.8 billion, United Immunity has secured total project funding of up to JPY 5.0 billion. The company plans to use the raised funds to accelerate global clinical development efforts and the practical application of new therapies.

ITOCHU has positioned the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector as a priority area. In addition to this investment, ITOCHU will supply materials and use its network to support United Immunity's development and growth, while also promoting collaboration with the pharmaceutical and chemicals industries. The treatment and prevention of intractable diseases, including cancer, are important issues directly linked to the improvement of public health and quality of life. ITOCHU has continued to fulfill its corporate social responsibilities through initiatives such as its collaboration with the National Cancer Center and the support it provides for balancing cancer treatment and work.

Investments in drug discovery and new medical fields are aligned with the Takaichi administration's growth strategy(17 strategic fields) and they form a part of a broader public-private effort to promote innovation. Investments in startups such as United Immunity which are pursuing innovative immunotherapies and novel drug modalities will help accelerate responses to unmet medical needs. Leveraging its network, material supply capabilities, and support for the global expansion of business, ITOCHU will help drive the growth and social implementation of ventures such as these, promote the development of business in advanced medical fields, and contribute to the realization of a society in which people can live healthy lives.

Under its management policy, "The Brand-New Deal: Profit opportunities are shifting downstream," ITOCHU will capture the increasingly diverse demand generated by sellers, buyers, and society arising from changes in society, and it will continue to develop and transform businesses from a downstream perspective while expanding its business domains. Going forward, ITOCHU will continue to create new value in a wide range of fields, including healthcare, through advanced business initiatives that accurately address the needs of society.