KAICO Ltd.

KAICO is a Japanese biotechnology start-up that focuses on developing and producing recombinant proteins using its core technology, the silkworm-baculovirus expression system. Silkworms are unique insects that can create recombinant proteins within their bodies. With the silkworm-baculovirus expression system, KAICO uses silkworms as a bioreactor to express diverse recombinant proteins that are hard to extract using other systems, such as microbes and cells. Regarding production, distinctive characteristics of the silkworm-baculovirus expression systems are scalability and speediness. It takes less than a week to express target proteins within the body of silkworms. To scale up its production, we increase the number of silkworms. Unlike other expression systems, we do not require bio tanks for scale-up. This makes a speedy transition possible from the research and development phase to mass production. KAICO’s development programs currently include oral vaccines for humans and animals. An oral vaccine can raise the antibody titer by eating instead of injecting. Proteins are decomposed into amino acids when ingested orally. However, KAICO found that even when administered orally, the antibody titer of some proteins expressed in silkworms can be increased. Through the spread of oral vaccines, we aim to contribute to global public health for human beings and improve the productivity of livestock farmers. As for human use, compared to injectable vaccines, it has significant merits as follows: 1. No need for syringes and needles. 2. No need for medical personnel for inoculation. 3. No need for cold-chain transportation and storage. By bringing in oral vaccines, KAICO will change the world with silkworms.