Chugai Pharmaceutical is promoting R&D based on organic collaboration between the respective functions of three core research laboratories: Fuji-Gotemba (Fuji-Gotemba, Shizuoka, Japan), Kamakura (Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan) and Ukima (Kita-ku, Tokyo). Fuji-Gotemba Research Laboratory is a core research laboratory in Chugai Pharmaceutical's research network. It is responsible for genomic antibody drug discovery research and low-molecular-weight drug research in renal/metabolic, bone/joint and immunological disease areas, etc. It is also responsible for property-development research and product-development research in relation to existing commercialised products. The Kamakura Research Laboratory is responsible for product development, existing-product property-development research and drug discovery research, focussing primarily on oncology and infectious diseases (HCV). At Ukima, the Pharmaceutical Technology Division and API Process Development Department are responsible for investigating the commercialisation of newly developed drugs and for the production of drugs for use in clinical trials. Chugai Pharmaceutical is also strengthening it's unique research network by utilising domestic and overseas joint-venture research bases, performing joint research with domestic and overseas universities and research institutions, participating in national projects, engaging in technological collaboration and joint research with other companies, etc. Furthermore, Chugai is utilising the Roche Group network to achieve global development of its drug research structure in a variety of fields. Access to the information and research results from Roche Group research centres, including Genentech (United States) will not only enable the early discovery of promising new drugs, but also shorten development periods.
Domestic and International Joint-Venture Research Structure
Aiming to shorten drug discovery and development periods and continuously create innovative R&D themes, as a new strategy for drug discovery, Chugai Pharmaceutical has been constructing a system for conducting drug discovery research projects as joint ventures . The domestic company, Forerunner Pharma Research Co., Ltd. (Meguro-ku, Tokyo), is an interdisciplinary laboratory that searches for target molecules for diagnostic and treatment agents for cancer and lifestyle-related diseases. Its research base is within the Komaba Open Laboratory, adjacent to the University of Tokyo Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST). That environment provides opportunities for creatively combining gene-expression analysis data obtained through joint research with RCAST with mechanism-based research results and ideas, and also provides opportunities for conducting feasibility studies, so it has enabled rapid and systematic analysis and evaluation of candidate target molecules. PharmaLogicals Research Pte. Ltd. (Singapore) is a laboratory that strives to improve searches for targets linked to pathological conditions in new treatment fields and to improve the accuracy of clinical predictions. Through collaboration with Forerunner Pharma Research Co., Ltd., its research results have enabled considerable acceleration of the identification of target molecules for diagnostic and treatment agents, and considerable acceleration of the antibody acquisition process. C&C Research Laboratories (South Korea) performs target searching and drug-discovery research centred on a very flexible synthetic chemistry research function.
Glossary
- Genentech, Inc.
- Genentech is a leader in the biotechnology industry, with headquarters in South San Francisco, USA. It was established in 1976 by Robert Swanson and Dr. Herbert Boyer, a pioneer who established the basic techniques of genetic recombination. The company successfully mass-produced human insulin and human growth hormone. It joined the Roche Group in 1990.
- Joint Ventures
- In joint ventures, Chugai Pharmaceutical participates in R&D projects by actually investing in partner companies.
- Forerunner Pharma Research Co., Ltd.
- This company was established in April 2005 by three companies: Chugai Pharmaceutical (capital ratio: 85%), Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (capital ratio: 14%), and the Central Institute for Experimental Animals (capital ratio: 1%). Its objective is to conduct innovative drug searching by integrating the leading-edge findings and information possessed by universities and research institutions with Chugai Pharmaceutical's own drug development technologies.
- PharmaLogicals Research Pte. Ltd.
- This company was established in May 2002 by three companies: Chugai Pharmaceutical (capital ratio: 48%), Biostar Research Pte. Ltd. (capital ratio: 48%; a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.), and the Central Institute for Experimental Animals (capital ratio: 4%). Its objective is to look for new biopharmaceuticals by integrating human genome information, animal experiment data, etc., with Chugai Pharmaceutical's drug discovery technology.
- C&C Research Laboratories
- This company was established in January 1992 as a joint venture between Chugai Pharmaceutical (capital ratio: 50%) and Choongwae Pharma Corp. (South Korea) (capital ratio: 50%). Its new-drug laboratory in Hwaseong (Gyeonggi Province, South Korea) conducts research commissioned by its two parent companies and also exploratory research based on its own ideas.
