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About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., headquartered in Osaka Japan, is an R&D-oriented pharmaceutical company committed to creating innovative medicines in specific areas. ONO focuses its research on the oncology, immunology, neurology and specialty area with high medical needs as priority areas for discovery and development of innovative medicines. For further information, please visit the company’s website at here.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., May 30, 2025 – ONO PHARMA USA today announced partnerships with LabCentral in Cambridge, Mass. to award one Golden Ticket for an innovative life sciences startup company. The competition is sponsored by ONO PHARMA USA’s parent company, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Ono), and applications will be received through May 2025. 

The Golden Ticket awards provide one promising early-stage R&D company lab space and mentorship, components that are vital to the success of promising life science businesses. The competition seeks proposals from startup companies in the oncology, immunology, neurology, and specialty areas.The Golden Ticket Ono is sponsoring will provide one outstanding applicant lab space and related services at LabCentral, as well as mentorship from Ono’s renowned researchers and business leaders across its global network. LabCentral has partnered with Ono since 2021.  Past winners are totaling 8 companies including Leverna, a biotech based in Cambridge, Mass., that specializes in the RNA regulatory processes and regulate gene expression and protein function.

Interested applicants may submit their non-confidential company presentations to:

• LabCentral, by May 30, to: partnerships@labcentral.org
• Golden Ticket winner will receive a $50,000 credit towards space available at LabCentral’s flagship site in Kendall Square for use within a 13-month period, beginning upon receipt.  Residents have access to a full range of services, equipment, and amenities.

Initial submissions will be accepted and reviewed by Ono’s internal committee. Finalists for each location will be notified and invited to present to Ono in person or virtually at the end of June. The Winner will be presented with the Golden Ticket shortly after that.

In 2021, Ono entered a sponsorship agreement with LabCentral, an organizations that supports the development of biotech startups and entrepreneurs by providing access to comprehensive laboratory facilities and technologies. Ono has long been a proponent of collaboration in R&D and credits its open innovation model for supporting key scientific breakthroughs over the years. 

“As longtime believers in open innovation and the power of partnerships, we are excited to be partnering with LabCentral  to offer this Golden Ticket competition,” said Kunihiko Ito, President and CEO of ONO PHARMA USA. “We encourage companies who are doing outstanding work in Ono’s four focus areas – oncology, immunology, neurology, and specialty medicine – to apply. It’s our goal to deliver first-in-class medicines to patients who are waiting for them, by leveraging startup technology and Ono’s expertise.”

About ONO PHARMA USA

ONO PHARMA USA, established in 1998 as the U.S. subsidiary of Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., is pursuing the clinical development of new drug candidates and aiming to establish operations in the U.S., from clinical development to regulatory approval and commercialization. In addition, ONO PHARMA USA is engaged in promotion of the discovery alliances and licensing activities to expand Ono’s development pipeline and pursue the commercialization opportunities in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.ono-usa.com. 

About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., headquartered in Osaka, is an R&D-oriented pharmaceutical company committed to creating innovative medicines in specific areas. Ono focuses its research on oncology, immunology, neurology, and specialty area with high medical needs as priority areas for discovery and development of innovative medicines. For further information, please visit the company’s website at https://www.ono-pharma.com/en.