Strengthening Program for Pharmaceutical Startup Ecosystem

This program was established to address Japan's shortage of pharmaceutical startup development funding relative to Europe and the US. It registers venture capital firms specializing in drug discovery and subsidizes pharmaceutical startup companies in the development stage — covering non-clinical, Phase 1, Phase 2, and exploratory clinical trials — with investment by a registered VC as a precondition. AMED subsidizes practical development expenses where registered VCs invest more than one-third of total expenses covered by the subsidy. Initially focused on vaccines and infectious-disease therapeutics (2021 Cabinet approval), the program was expanded in October 2022 to cover all drug discovery fields that face difficulty raising private funds. Japanese subsidiaries of foreign corporations established for fund-raising or overseas commercialization are also eligible. The program maintains a public list of 34 registered VCs (last updated April 2026), spanning international and domestic investors. Future calls for proposals are scheduled periodically, subject to budget circumstances.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.