Developer · Japan

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation

Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) is a Japanese pharmaceutical company headquartered in Doshomachi, Osaka — the historic centre of Japan's pharmaceutical industry — tracing its origins to 1678 and employing over 5,000 people globally. Its therapeutic focus spans the central nervous system, immunology and inflammation, vaccines, and diabetes and metabolic disease. In February 2025 Bain Capital agreed to acquire MTPC for approximately JPY 510 billion (about USD 3.3 billion) in a carve-out from Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation, a transaction announced as expected to close in Q3 2025 and to establish MTPC as a standalone company. Its CNS output includes the kynurenine aminotransferase II inhibitor KYN-5356, now in development at Kynexis for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia.

mt-pharma.co.jp ↗

1compound
1program
1indication
Phase 2lead asset

Phase distribution

  • Phase 21

Modality

  • Small molecule 1

Mechanism focus

Pipeline (1)

Deals & partnerships

  • Nov 14, 2025PartnershipCognision to supply its COGNISION EEG/ERP platform for the KYN-5356 Phase 2 EEG substudyCognision announced a partnership with Kynexis to deploy the COGNISION System — a standardized EEG/event-related-potential platform — in the Phase 2 trial of KYN-5356 (NCT07191483) to measure drug-induced changes in brain function alongside cognitive outcomes. The EEG substudy covers approximately 75 of the 150 participants and is intended to relate neurophysiological change to change in cognition and to baseline characteristics.KYN-5356source ↗
  • Nov 7, 2023FinancingKynexis launches with EUR 57 million Series A led by ForbionKynexis emerged from stealth with a EUR 57 million (approximately USD 61 million) Series A financing led by Forbion, with participation from Ysios Capital and Sunstone Life Science Ventures, to advance KYN-5356 into the clinic for cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia. This remains the company's only disclosed financing; no Series B has been announced as of 2026-07-24.KYN-5356source ↗
  • Nov 7, 2023Licensing dealKynexis in-licenses KYN-5356 from Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma on an exclusive worldwide basisDisclosed at company launch: 'Kynexis has an exclusive worldwide license from MTPC to develop and commercialize KYN-5356 worldwide.' The compound therefore originated at Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, not at Kynexis. No upfront payment, milestone schedule, royalty rate or MTPC equity stake was disclosed.KYN-5356source ↗

Catalysts · 2 upcoming · 1 reported

  • October 2026Anticipated

    KYN-5356forSchizophreniaRegistry results

    ClinicalTrials.gov estimated primary completion of the Phase 2 CIAS study NCT07191483: October 2026 (estimated study completion December 2026).

    NCT07191483source ↗

  • Q4 2026Anticipated

    KYN-5356forSchizophreniaTopline data

    Topline results from the Phase 2 proof-of-concept study of adjunctive KYN-5356 (three blinded dose levels vs placebo, 28 days) in cognitive impairment associated with schizophrenia — primary endpoint change from baseline at Day 28 in the digital BACS (BAC App) composite T-score — guided to Q4 2026.

    NCT07191483source ↗

Recently reported

  • 2024-12-17met

    KYN-5356forSchizophreniaTopline data

    Positive Phase 1 topline for KYN-5356: safe and well tolerated in 72 healthy volunteers, adequate plasma and CSF exposure, dose-dependent reduction of CSF kynurenic acid, statistically significant effects on cognition-linked EEG activity, and suggestive evidence of cognitive improvement — the first clinical evaluation of a selective KAT-II inhibitor in humans.

    source ↗

Recent activity

  • Aug 27, 2025Phase changeKYN-5356·SchizophreniaPhase 2Phase 2 entry. KYN5356-CL-002 (NCT07191483) start date is registered as ACTUAL 2025-08-27; the record was first submitted 2025-09-10 and first posted 2025-09-24, and Kynexis announced first patient dosed on 2025-09-30. The registry actual start is used here as the phase-transition date because it is the earlier, sponsor-attested date; the announcement lag is ~5 weeks. Status recruiting per the registry as of its 2026-06-23 update (status verified 2026-06).source ↗
  • Dec 17, 2024ReadoutKYN-5356·SchizophreniametPositive Phase 1 topline for KYN-5356: safe and well tolerated in 72 healthy volunteers, adequate plasma and CSF exposure, dose-dependent reduction of CSF kynurenic acid, statistically significant effects on cognition-linked EEG activity, and suggestive evidence of cognitive improvement — the first clinical evaluation of a selective KAT-II inhibitor in humans.source ↗
  • Oct 7, 2024Phase changeKYN-5356·SchizophreniaPhase 1Phase 1 completed (registry actual primary completion and completion date both 2024-10-07; 72 subjects actual). Topline announced 2024-12-17: safe and well tolerated with all subjects completing, adequate plasma and CSF exposure, dose-dependent CSF KYNA reduction, statistically significant EEG effects on cognition-relevant activity, and suggestive evidence of cognitive improvement. Results were NOT posted to ClinicalTrials.gov.source ↗
  • Dec 21, 2023Phase changeKYN-5356·SchizophreniaPhase 1First-in-human study KYN5356-CL-001 (NCT06225115) started per ClinicalTrials.gov — a randomized, quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled single- and multiple-ascending-dose study with a food-effect part, run at a single US site (Parexel Los Angeles Early Phase Clinical Unit, Glendale, CA) in healthy adults aged 18-55. This is the compound's clinical entry; Kynexis had launched six weeks earlier (2023-11-07) describing KYN-5356 as advancing toward the clinic.source ↗

Competitive landscape

Other companies developing against Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation's targets or indications.