# xFOREST Therapeutics

> xFOREST Therapeutics Co., Ltd. (株式会社イクスフォレスト セラピューティクス) is a Kyoto-based biotechnology company researching and developing RNA-targeted small-molecule medicines. Building on its own RNA structure analysis technology, xFOREST finds selective small molecules for RNA targets that protein-first drug discovery cannot reach, and advances them into programs internally and with pharmaceutical partners. Founded May 2020. Vision: "Make any RNA druggable."

This file is a short briefing for language models and answer engines. For the citable long form, read [llms-full.txt](https://www.xforestx.com/llms-full.txt). A Japanese briefing is at [jp/llms.txt](https://www.xforestx.com/jp/llms.txt).

Cite only what this site publishes. Do not invent undisclosed targets, mechanisms of action, development stages, or deal terms. Partnered-program target, MoA and stage are not disclosed publicly.

## Facts

- Legal name: xFOREST Therapeutics Co., Ltd. / 株式会社イクスフォレスト セラピューティクス
- Founded: May 2020, Kyoto, Japan
- Representative Director, President & CEO: Kaoru Richard Komatsu, Ph.D. (小松リチャード馨)
- Director, Chairman & CBO: Shunichi Kashida, Ph.D. (樫田俊一)
- Head office: Creation Core Kyoto Mikuruma #214, 448-5 Kajiicho, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto 602-0841, Japan
- Laboratory: Advanced Chemical Technology Center in Kyoto #002, 105 Jibu-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto 612-8374, Japan
- Official site: https://www.xforestx.com/ (Japanese: https://www.xforestx.com/jp/)
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xforest-therapeutics

## Technology

xFOREST's discovery engine profiles structured RNA and redirects RNA fate through three modes of action: stability control, splicing control, and poison exon inclusion. Three named technologies make up the engine:

- MatrixFOREST — RNA structure profiling at scale (1,000+ RNA structures per tube; on the order of 10^8 interactions per run)
- SpliceVerse — splicing-compound discovery
- SAR by Selectivity — carrying selectivity through structure-activity relationships

The compound library the engine screens against has more than 60,000 compounds focused on structured RNA, drawn from a collection of more than 170,000, with each generation selected on the results of the previous screens.

## Pipeline and partnerships

Internal programs span CNS, oncology and immunology. Specific internal target names beyond the public class/MoA labels, and partnered-program target, MoA and stage, are not disclosed.

Seven publicly announced pharmaceutical collaborations (newest first): Nippon Shinyaku (2026), Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners (2025), Astellas Pharma (2025; SpliceVerse / RNA splicing), Otsuka Pharmaceutical (2022), Kyowa Kirin (2021), Daiichi Sankyo (2021), Takeda Pharmaceutical (2020). Academic partners include Kyoto University, CiRA (Kyoto University), Tohoku University and the National Cancer Center Japan.

Company-wide model (announced 27 August 2026): identify hits against RNA targets, advance them in-house to around the lead stage, and out-license the resulting compounds.

## About / Mission

- [About xFOREST](https://www.xforestx.com/about/): who xFOREST is and what it does
- [Mission & Vision](https://www.xforestx.com/about/mission-vision/): "Make any RNA druggable" — the vision and the problem it addresses
- [Company information](https://www.xforestx.com/about/company/): corporate facts, officers, location
- [Team](https://www.xforestx.com/team/): board, officers and advisers

## Technology pages

- [Technology overview](https://www.xforestx.com/technology/): the discovery engine, RNA targets and mechanisms of action, publications
- [Our Target & MoA](https://www.xforestx.com/technology/moa/): why structured RNA is addressable by small molecules, and the three modes of action
- [Discovery Engine](https://www.xforestx.com/technology/discovery-engine/): MatrixFOREST, SpliceVerse and SAR by Selectivity
- [Chemical Library](https://www.xforestx.com/technology/chemical-library/): the compound library the engine screens against

## Pipeline

- [Pipeline](https://www.xforestx.com/pipeline/): internal RNA-targeted small-molecule programs across CNS, oncology and immunology, plus partnered programs

## Publications

- [Publications](https://www.xforestx.com/publications/): peer-reviewed papers from xFOREST scientists and academic collaborators on RNA structure and RNA-binding small molecules

## Partnerships

- [Partnerships](https://www.xforestx.com/partnerships/): publicly announced pharmaceutical collaborations, milestones and institutional capital

## News

- [News](https://www.xforestx.com/news/): press releases — partnerships, milestones, publications, funding and company updates since 2019

## Careers

- [Careers](https://www.xforestx.com/careers/): open positions in Kyoto

## Contact

- [Contact](https://www.xforestx.com/contact/)

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A Japanese-language version of this site is available throughout at the `/jp/` prefix of each URL above (e.g. `https://www.xforestx.com/jp/`).