RIKEN

Visualizing Research and Development Progress

　The Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms aim to implement innovative drug discovery and medical technologies based on areas of disease with low levels of therapeutic satisfaction, orphan drugs and new concepts. With respect to the drug creation and medical technology platforms listed in the chart below, we are currently placing maximum priority on moving to the next stage, reviewing the stages on a monthly basis to identify issues, and promoting effective research and development. For the selection of drug discovery themes, we have established guidelines to evaluate the novelty and reliability of the mechanisms, geared toward surveys of the literature and dedicated databases as well as evaluation of binding sites.

　We have also established guidelines for judging the stages of research and development, and we have regulated the items that must be cleared before entering clinical studies.

The Challenges of Rare and Incurable Diseases

　This program has embarked on research and development of rare and incurable diseases in areas where pharmaceutical companies find it difficult to engage. We are currently targeting Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP). This disease is said to afflict one in 2 million people and starts in childhood with all the muscles and surrounding membranes, tendons and ligaments in the body gradually hardening and turning to bone (heterotopic ossification). As a result, the internal structures are crushed by ossification preventing muscle stretching, walking or eating, leading to death when it becomes impossible to breathe. Patients are no longer able to move their bodies by age 30 and prolonging life until age 40 is rare. At present, the disease is considered incurable. This program expects to develop inhibitors for newly identified target proteins and we are also advancing studies of "enhanced applications" for the inhibitor to interface with pharmaceutical companies.

Promoting Alliances of Drug Discovery and Medical Technologies Themes
-Looking for Corporate Partners!-

　The program is looking for partners for the drug discovery and medical technology themes and projects mentioned above. If you are interested in any of these themes, we would be pleased to disclose descriptions of the themes upon conclusion of a confidentiality agreement. Formats for an alliance include license agreements where we provide the relevant information including patents for specific themes, joint research where we advance research and development on specific themes together with corporate partners, or license agreements by means of negotiations that prioritize deliverables and assess progress in research and development. It is also possible to create formats in accordance with the requests of corporations.

　In addition to alliances at the L stages or the development stages, we are also ready for alliances regarding particular areas of disease or basic technologies. Please feel free to contact us for more information.