SMBC Invests in AN Venture Partners
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation has entered into an investment agreement with AN Venture Partners I, operated by ANV Management, which invests in the biotechnology sector.
ANV was established in 2022 with the purpose of creating global biotechnology companies based primarily on excellent research and drug discovery seeds from Japanese universities, research institutions, and companies.
ANV is operated by capitalists and experts from pharmaceutical companies who have high knowledge and experience in the field. Through their extensive networks with academia and deep understanding of drug discovery seeds, they support the social implementation of research with great social significance through entrepreneurship.
Furthermore, through an alliance with ARCH Venture Partners, one of the world's leading venture capital firms in the biotechnology field based in the United States, ANV provides access to the U.S. startup ecosystem and recruits excellent management talent, accelerating the global process from research and development through clinical trials to market launch.
In the medium term, it is expected that technology and capital will flow back to Japan's bio-ecosystem through social implementation in the United States, leading to the growth of Japan's biotechnology sector.
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group has established "Creation of Social Value" as one of the basic policies in its current medium-term management plan, and has defined "Japan's Regrowth" as one of the priority issues to be actively addressed. Additionally, as one of the frameworks to support business co-creation and development with customers that contribute to social value creation, as well as the development of new technologies and nurturing of industries through risk-taking, the company has established a "Social Value Creation Investment Framework".
The drug discovery industry is positioned as a growth industry by the Japanese government, and is an area where private investment in startup companies originating from academia with new technologies and cutting-edge knowledge, particularly in biopharmaceuticals, is expected.
By utilizing the "Social Value Creation Investment Framework" to make LP investments in this fund, we will contribute to Japan's regrowth through the expansion of Japan's drug discovery ecosystem.
