For Immediate Release

Company name: DAIICHI SANKYO COMPANY, LIMITED
Representative: Joji Nakayama, President and CEO
(Code no.: 4568, First Section, Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Please address inquiries to Noriaki Ishida, Corporate Officer,
Vice President, Corporate Communications Department
Telephone: +81-3-6225-1126
http://www.daiichisankyo.com/

Daiichi Sankyo to Facilitate New Drug Discovery in 2014 through Collaborative Research and Grants

Tokyo, Japan (March 25, 2014) – Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (TSE: 4568; hereafter Daiichi Sankyo) today announced its TaNeDS (Take a New challenge for Drug diScovery) collaborative drug discovery project for 2014. The company will select research partners for the project from among researchers based in Japan.

 

1. Background

 

To realize the objective of Daiichi Sankyo’s 5-year Business Plan (FY2013-2017), namely the development of a competitive pipeline for rapid and continuous creation of innovative new drugs, open innovation is actively progressing. One aspect of this strategy is the collaborative research and grant program TaNeDS, which was launched in 2011 and has since received numerous research theme proposals from across Japan, with various projects currently ongoing. Daiichi Sankyo will continue the program in 2014, seeking further drug discovery research possibilities by casting a wide net to find research themes and technologies that will result in the discovery of new drugs. Furthermore, following on from 2013, Daiichi Sankyo’s wholly owned subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd. (hereafter, RD Novare), is again joining TaNeDS to promote the development of technology platforms for the next generation.

 

2.  Overview of TaNeDS

(1) Multi-entrance

The TaNeDS project will accept entries for a range of themes, including exploratory research, collaborative research, early-stage drug discovery and concepts for inventions. Themes covering all stages, from the initial phase of research to practical use, will be accepted. In order to attract a variety of entries, both individual researchers and groups will be welcomed.

 

(2) Multi-exit

In order to efficiently realize practical uses from research results, a number of outcomes are foreseen, including further investigations into discovered results, collaborative research on drug creation, and utilization of OiDE projects* aimed at fostering intellectual property or technologies from a business viewpoint.

*Open innovation projects funded by the OiDE (Open innovation for the Development of Emerging technologies)

fund, which is managed by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital.

 

3.  Project overview

(1) How to apply

Two project types have been set up for 2014 based on the results of applications and projects adopted in 2013, and with the participation of RD Novare this year in mind.

Project type		Duration	Scope of funding (total)
A. Daiichi Sankyo’s Desired Research Themes	a.Drug discovery target verification	Completion of contract to March 31, 2016	Up to 10 million yen
	b.Drug discovery target investigation	Completion of contract within 2 years	Up to 10 million yen
	c.Drug discovery technology development/verification	Completion of contract to March 31, 2016	Up to 10 million yen
	d.Pharmaceutical technology	Completion of contract for 1 or 2 years	Up to 20 million yen (10 million yen/year)
B. RD Novare’s Desired Research Themes	Drug discovery and development technology platforms	Completion of contract to March 31, 2016	Up to 5 million yen

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 *Project duration subject to change based on research.

 Target project numbers: 18 for A, and 2 for B

 

A. Desired research themes by Daiichi Sankyo:

a) Drug discovery target verification - Research themes that will lead to the verification of new drug targets, regarding elements found in exploratory/discovery research, through methods including analysis of body functions and of pathology samples, will be accepted.

b) Drug discovery target investigation – Research themes that will lead to the discovery/identification of new drug targets, based on unique research tools or ideas, will be accepted.

c) Drug discovery technology development/verification – Research technology themes that help to revitalize or improve effectiveness of drug discovery research will be accepted.

d) Pharmaceutical technology – Research themes that will solve issues related to the pharmaceutical manufacturing process will be accepted.

Daiichi Sankyo will determine if feasibility studies with Daiichi Sankyo researchers (preliminary collaborative research) or collaborative research should be conducted based on proposed themes. Accepted themes will be selected for continuation based on results after the research period comes to close.

 

B. Desired research themes by RD Novare:

Research themes that will lead to the development of the novel technology platforms related to drug discovery and development will be accepted. Scientists at RD Novare work together on lead technologies being researched academically by applicants to establish leading edge technology platforms and biological evaluation methods.

 

(2) Desired research themes

A. Desired research themes by Daiichi Sankyo

a) Drug discovery target verification

1. Oncology

2. Cardiovascular metabolics (metabolic disease, heart disease and vascular disease)

3. Other disorders

4. Vaccines

 

b) Drug discovery target investigation

5. Oncology

6. Cardiovascular metabolics (metabolic disease, heart disease and vascular disease)

7. Other disorders

8. Vaccines

 

c) Drug discovery technology development/verification

9. Biologics

10. Pathology/vital imaging

11. Measuring technology

12. Drug safety

13. ADME (Drug Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion)

14. Pathology/in silico models related to drug effect estimates

15.Vaccines

 

 d) Pharmaceutical technology

16. Biomedicine safety technology

17. Screening-related technology

18. New synthetic technology

 

B. Desired research themes by RD Novare

Drug discovery and development technology platform research

 

*For more information about the TaNeDS program, please visit the Daiichi Sankyo corporate website (in Japanese) at: https://www.daiichisankyo.co.jp/corporate/rd/taneds

 

 (3) Who is eligible?

Researchers from universities and public research institutions who can conduct research in Japan

 

(4) Schedule

Application period:                 May 19 to June 16, 2014

First selection period:           June 17 to July 31, 2014

Second selection period:     August 1 to September 30, 2014

Contract negotiation:             From October 1, 2014

Start of research:                   Upon completion of contract

 

 

 

Profile of DAIICHI SANKYO RD NOVARE CO., LTD.

 

Capitalization	50 million yen
Date of establishment	October 3, 2006
Location	Tokyo, Japan
President	Hideyuki Haruyama
Number of employees	Around 300
Core business overview	・Custom production of research materials and intermediates for drug discovery and development ・Contract assay development and quantitative and/or qualitative analysis of drug substances. ・Technology based drug discovery support and alliance. ・Consultation for the evaluation and application of the novel technological platform for drug discovery. ・Contract clinical development.