Startup
APAculys Pharma
アキュリスファーマ株式会社
#35 (tie) in the Japan Top 100 Startups
| Founded / HQ | 2021 · Tokyo |
|---|---|
| Cumulative raised | ¥14B “シリーズC完了時の累計資金調達額は140億円” Company-stated cumulative · as of 24 Mar 2025 · Aculys Pharma STARTUP DB lists ¥17.55B after a further 2025 close. |
| Last round | 24 Mar 2025 · Series C · ¥4.4B 総額44億円 |
| Latest public valuation | Not publicly disclosed (we do not estimate) |
| Unicorn | No |
| Website | aculys.com |
From Japanese sources
Findings from Japanese-language filings, government records, trade press, interviews and job posts, with our English analysis. Items tagged Japanese-only had no English coverage when we checked quickly. Most insightful first.
| 2025-10-15 | Regulatory filingViatris acquires Aculys Pharma outright, including Japan rights to pitolisant Viatrisによる…アキュリスファーマ完全子会社化のお知らせ Aculys is no longer an independent startup. Viatris bought 100% for the Japanese pitolisant rights and APAC rights to Spydia (diazepam nasal spray). This is a trade-sale exit for a 2021-founded in-licensing biotech, the model of buying Western drugs for Japan and selling before launch. We treat it as an exit. Source: Viatris Japan |
|---|---|
| 2026-09-16 | GovernmentJapan approves pitolisant (Wakix), the asset Aculys in-licensed 「ウエキクス®錠 5mg/20mg」（ピトリサント塩酸塩錠）製造販売承認を取得 Japan's first H3-receptor antagonist is approved for narcolepsy and for excessive daytime sleepiness in sleep apnoea patients on CPAP. This is the regulatory milestone Viatris paid for, less than a year after the exit. Source: Viatris Japan (MHLW approval) |
Overview
Aculys Pharma is a Tokyo drug developer focused on neurological and psychiatric conditions, licensing in drug candidates for development in Japan. Founded in 2021, it raised a ¥2.8B Series B in 2022 and a ¥4.4B Series C in March 2025, after which it put cumulative funding at ¥14B.
Built from: Series C release
Company timeline
Founded
| Date | 2021-01· Mix Online |
|---|---|
| Founders | Kazunari Tsunaba, Takeshi Takahashi |
Funding
| Date | Round | Amount | Lead / key investors | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-03-27 | Series B | ¥2.8B 28億円 | Company release | |
| 2025-03-24 | Series C | ¥4.4B; cumulative ¥14B 累計資金調達額は140億円 | Company release |
Key hires & board
| 2023-11 | LeadershipCo-founder Kazunari Tsunaba steps down as CEO; co-founder Takeshi Takahashi becomes president· Mix Online |
|---|
Milestones
| 2024-06-28 | CorporateChange of corporate form and head-office relocation· Aculys Pharma |
|---|---|
| 2024-07-16 | RegulatorySelf-inspection report on generic-drug approval and manufacturing consistency (as of 4 Jul 2024)· Aculys Pharma |
| 2024-08-14 | RegulatorySelf-inspection report on generic-drug approval and manufacturing consistency (as of 6 Aug 2024)· Aculys Pharma |
| 2024-09-11 | RegulatorySelf-inspection report on generic-drug approval and manufacturing consistency (as of 5 Sep 2024)· Aculys Pharma |
| 2024-10-10 | RegulatorySelf-inspection report on generic-drug approval and manufacturing consistency (as of 4 Oct 2024)· Aculys Pharma |
| 2024-11-13 | RegulatorySelf-inspection report on generic-drug approval and manufacturing consistency (as of 31 Oct 2024)· Aculys Pharma |
News
Funding rounds in 2026
No 2026 rounds in our database yet. Earlier funding is summarised above from the cited source.