At newly rechristened Rakuten Medical, Japanese billionaire Mikitani ups the ante with another megaround
October 26, 2019
Endpoints News | August 2, 2019:
Mickey Mikitani made it clear, over the three years he’s backed the San Diego startup Aspyrian Therapeutics, that he’s ready to bet a fortune of his massive wealth — estimated at $6.7 billion — on its photoimmunotherapy tech. The e-tail billionaire got involved early in the $40 million Series A, provided the lion’s share for the subsequent rounds totaling $284 million, took charge first as chairman then as CEO, and gradually integrated the biotech’s brand entirely into his Rakuten empire.
In 2012, my father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I was ready to do anything for him to be cured. With that sole purpose, I read many scientific papers from all over the world, and I met and talked with numerous experts in the field. How could I cure my father’s cancer? I searched every single possibility available.
That is when I found out about photoimmunotherapy that was only at an early stage of research. Although I had many doubts about this completely new approach, desperate for a miracle, I immediately went to meet the researcher.
Everyone was still doubtful at that stage. But the more I heard about this research, the more it made sense.
I instinctively thought, “This is it.” It was the same feeling I got as when I grasped that the internet would change the world forever. Somehow, wishing to save my father, I immediately made up my mind to support the research personally to speed it up.
Unfortunately, we didn’t make it in time to save my father. But I decided to continue my support. My father who was as an economist always said, “One important mission of corporations is to contribute to humanity.”
Left behind, I resolved to provide this latest treatment to as many people as possible. It will surely be a path fraught with difficulties. But right at this moment there are many who are suffering from cancer, many who wish to save the lives of their loved ones, and I know exactly how they feel.
To provide this treatment as soon as possible, to bring this treatment to as many people as possible, I will not fail to support this research from now on.
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