Zeon Corporation Invests in Kanvas Biosciences

Zeon Corporation (HQ: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Tetsuya Toyoshima; hereinafter "Zeon") has invested in Kanvas Biosciences (hereinafter "Kanvas"), a Princeton, New Jersey-based drug development company leveraging the gut microbiome, through its corporate venture capital (CVC) management subsidiary, Zeon Ventures Inc. (California, USA; Representative: Kazuhiro Takahashi). Through this investment, Zeon aims to explore new business opportunities in this field.

Kanvas is the world's first drug discovery startup that handles both the development and manufacturing of therapeutics using the gut microbiome. The company possesses proprietary technology that clarifies the relationship between the gut microbiome and host cells (such as intestinal epithelial cells). This technology enables the manufacturing of therapeutics using microbiome mixtures composed of hundreds of diverse microbes, as well as the visualization of drug efficacy in the large intestine.

Kanvas's technology is expected to advance microbiome medicine from "research potential" to "reproducible and manufacturable therapeutics." Through its investment in Kanvas, Zeon will explore new business opportunities in the microbiome-related market to strengthen its future business portfolio.

Under its medium-term management plan, STAGE30, Zeon has designated "Mobility," "Healthcare & Life Sciences," "Information & Communications," and "GX (Green Transformation)" as its four growth areas. This investment further advances initiatives in the Healthcare & Life Sciences sector. Zeon remains committed to contributing to a "sustainable earth" and "safe and comfortable lives for people" through startup investments and business co-creation.

【Overview of Kanvas Biosciences】 Company Name: Kanvas Biosciences (https://www.kanvasbio.com/) Business Description: Microbiome drug discovery, development, and manufacturing utilizing a spatial biology platform Representative: Matthew Cheng (Co-founder & CEO)

【Overview of Zeon Ventures】 Company Name: Zeon Ventures Inc. (https://www.zeon.ventures/) Business Description: Investment activities in startup companies, etc. Representative: Kazuhiro Takahashi Address: 25 Metro Drive, Suite 238, San Jose, California 95110