To ensure a continuous supply of innovative in-house-developed drugs, Chugai Pharmaceutical is exploiting its unique strengths and its global network to the full, and has been developing a range of new-drug creation activities that provide a healthy balance between low-molecular-weight drugs and antibody drugs.
Improved Low-Molecular-Weight Drug Creation Capacity
Since forming a strategic alliance with Roche, Chugai Pharmaceutical has constructed a network related to exploratory research into low-molecular-weight drugs. This network rapidly improved the efficiency of Chugai Pharmaceutical's new-drug discovery activities, because it enables access to the multiple banks of molecular entities owned by Roche around the world, and access to research data on the structure, pharmacology, kinetics and toxicity of molecular entities.
Establishment of a Unique "Genomic Antibody-Drug Discovery" Approach and the Challenge of "Next-Generation Biopharmaceutical Drugs"
The concept of genomic antibody-drug discovery was established by utilising the recombinant protein production and antibody humanisation technologies we acquired during the development of biopharmaceutical drugs and the knowledge and genome information we gained from constructing a human antibody library and establishing antibody production systems, while focussing our attention on research that connects genome information to antibody drugs. By combining our unique drug discovery technology with the world's most advanced biotechnology, we are striving to develop high-value antibody drugs by enhancing antibody functions, optimising antibody molecules, etc., and also to develop new molecular biopharmaceuticals that share characteristics with low-molecular-weight drugs.
Glossary
- Antibody Drugs
- The human body is protected by a defence system that operates by recognising proteins of bacteria, viruses, etc., as foreign substances (antigens) and producing antibody proteins that attack the foreign substances (the antigen-antibody reaction). Drugs that utilize this innate response of the human body are antibody drugs.
- Strategic Alliance with Roche
- In October 2002, Chugai merged with Nippon Roche, a wholly owned subsidiary of Roche, and the surviving entity, Chugai Pharmaceutical, became a member of the Roche Group. As a result, Chugai Pharmaceutical gained an infrastructure that allows it to expand its business, both in Japan and overseas.
- Molecular Entities
- This refers to any pure substance composed of two or more elements that is formed by a chemical reaction.
- Genomic Antibody Drug Discovery
- Chugai Pharmaceutical has been working on drug development using genes as a drug discovery tool since the 1980s and has incorporated the new concept of "genomic antibody drug discovery" (as distinct from standard "genomic drug discovery") into its approach to antibody drug development. This concept combines the platform technologies we developed previously - antibody engineering, embryological engineering, drug design, protein drug product manufacturing, etc. - with antibody drug discovery.
