HONG KONG, July 26, 2022 - (ACN Newswire) - The aging of the population is accelerating, pharmaceutical technology is constantly updating, and the development of the global pharmaceutical industry continues to accelerate. The pharmaceutical market is expected to maintain a growing trend. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global pharmaceutical market is expected to reach $1,711.4 billion by 2025. Aptorum Group Limited (Nasdaq: APM, Euronext Paris: APM) is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of therapeutic assets to treat diseases with unmet medical needs, particularly in oncology (including orphan oncology indications) and infectious diseases. The pipeline of Aptorum is also enriched through (i) the establishment of drug discovery platforms that enable the discovery of new therapeutics assets through, e.g. discovery and development of new small molecules and biologics, and systematic screening of existing approved drug molecules, etc.; and (ii) the co-development of a novel molecular-based rapid pathogen identification and detection diagnostics technology with Accelerate Technologies Pte Ltd, the commercialization arm of the Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research. Currently, Aptorum Group's R&D pipelines cover the ALS family of drugs and the SACT family of drugs, covering such indications as drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (including MRSA), Gram-positive cocci, influenza A, COVID-19, orphan disease neuroblastoma and other cancers. Since the beginning of this year, Aptorum Group has accelerated its research and development (R&D), with major breakthroughs achieved in several pipelines under development. SACT-1, the Group's orally administered small molecule drug for the treatment of neuroblastoma, was granted its first patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (US PTO) in November 2021 and Orphan Drug Designation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile, the Group completed the Phase I clinical trial of SACT-1 in January this year and announced the finalized data in May. The data showed that SACT-1 had impressive safety and good tolerability making the later stages of SACT-1 promising. In addition, earlier in the year, the Group launched oncology and autoimmune discovery and development platform targeting unmet mutations and novel biomarkers, focusing on indications including non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases. In the meantime, the Group also completed a Phase I clinical trial for ALS-4, a first-in-class anti-virulence-based small molecule drug targeting infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus including MRSA. In the second quarter of this year, the Group's Rapid Pathogen Infectious Disease Liquid Biopsy Diagnostics ("RPIDD") was granted a patent by the US PTO, and the Group is spearheading the efforts in the ongoing clinical validation and pre-commercialisation preparation of the technology. Currently, the overall development prospect of the biopharmaceutical industry is promising. Aptorum Group is actively advancing its R&D projects. With its strong R&D capabilities and internal management capacity, it is expected to further enhance its business development, expand the room for enterprise development, and gain greater development opportunities in the biopharmaceutical industry.
Foster City, CA, and Hangzhou, China, Jul 26, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Apollomics Inc. an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of mono- and combination- oncology therapies, today announced the appointment of Jane Wang, PhD as Chief Scientific Officer. In this role, Dr. Wang will lead the drug discovery pipeline for the Company. She will also serve as Apollomics' China General Manager and will report to the Chief Executive Officer. "We are very excited to have Jane join our team," said Guo-Liang Yu, PhD, Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "Jane is a drug discovery expert in a number of therapeutic areas, including oncology, with a proven track record advancing compounds from the laboratory to clinical development. With her broad experience, she will make significant contributions to our global research strategy.""I am pleased to join a Company dedicated to the discovery, research, and clinical development of novel agents targeting multiple oncology indications. I look forward to growing our global team to discover and advance new compounds into the clinic," added Jane Wang, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Wang brings over 20 years of drug discovery experience in the biopharmaceutical industry. Most recently, she served as Vice President, Medicinal Chemistry at WuXi AppTec where she worked to enhance RNA drug discovery and led multiple teams in medicinal chemistry and synthetic organic chemistry. Prior to WuXi, Dr. Wang spent 12 years on the drug discovery team at Pfizer, Inc. as a senior principal scientist, focusing on diseases in oncology, inflammation, and the central nervous system Previously, she did her postdoc at the U.S. National Institute of Health and at Schering-Plough. Dr. Wang earned a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and a B.S. in Applied Chemistry from Fudan University. She is an inventor/co-inventor of over 50 patent applications and an author of over 35 publications. About Apollomics Inc.Apollomics Inc. is an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of monotherapies and combination therapies of tumor-targeting and immuno-oncology agents. The Company's product pipeline has several programs at different stages of development, including a novel, humanized monoclonal antibodies that restore the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells, and targeted therapies against uncontrolled growth signaling pathways. Apollomics has operating entities in Foster City, California, USA, Hangzhou and Shanghai, China. For more information, please visit www.apollomicsinc.com.Contact Information:Investor Contact:Raymond LowVP Finance, Corporate Controller(925) 451-0712Raymond.Low@apollomicsinc.comU.S. Media Contact:Remy BernardaCorporate Communications(415) 203-6386remy.bernarda@apollomicsinc.comChina Media Contact:Porda Havas International Finance Communications GroupKelly FungGeneral Manager(852) 3150 6763kelly.fung@pordahavas.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
TOKYO, May 17, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu Limited and RIKEN today launched a joint research project on next-generation IT drug discovery technology utilizing the supercomputer Fugaku(1), aiming to accelerate DX (digital transformation) in drug discovery, explore promising new areas in this process, and dramatically reduce development period and costs for new drug development.The joint research project will leverage high performance computing technologies and the supercomputer Fugaku to accelerate simulation integrated AI that combines Fujitsu's DeepTwin AI technology, which accurately acquires quantitative features from complex data by unsupervised learning, with molecular dynamics simulation using RIKEN's AI drug discovery simulation technology. It is expected that this approach makes it possible to improve the accuracy and speed of molecular simulation and establish innovative technologies that can predict changes in the structure of target proteins over a wide range.Based on this research, the two parties aim to develop a next-generation IT drug discovery technology with world-leading capabilities by the end of fiscal 2026. Fujitsu and RIKEN anticipate that this technology will perform analysis of target protein and drug candidate molecule complex and predict large-scale structural changes of molecules with high speed and high accuracy to contribute to the development of middle-molecular drugs and large-molecular drugs, which are expected to have high efficacy and low side effects.BackgroundRecently, in the search to create vaccines and new drugs to counter the threat posed by emerging diseases such as COVID-19, researchers are strengthening efforts to develop middle-molecular drugs and large-molecular drugs, which offer the promise of high efficacy with relatively few side effects. Fujitsu and RIKEN will initiate joint research to explore new areas in the drug discovery process and dramatically reduce the development period and cost by enabling the prediction of unknown complex structures of target proteins and drug candidate molecules through the fusion of the cutting-edge molecular simulation, computing, and both partners' AI technologies for drug discovery, as well as the supercomputer Fugaku.Period of joint researchMay 17, 2022 to March 31, 2025 (scheduled to continue after April 2025)Roles of Fujitsu and RIKENFujitsu- Development of technology to obtain quantitative features of protein data with the unsupervised AI technology DeepTwin- Development of high-performance computing technology to integrate and efficiently operate molecular dynamics simulation and AI on the supercomputer FugakuRIKEN- Development of a new drug discovery simulation technology that reproduces large-scale structural changes with high accuracy and low computational cost- The development of the new technology which combined simulation and AI and experiment for estimating various structuresFuture PlansBy the end of fiscal 2026, the two parties will leverage jointly developed next-generation IT drug discovery technology utilizing the supercomputer Fugaku to create a new IT drug discovery process that emphasizes middle-molecular drugs and large-molecular drugs and disseminate it to pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders in the medical field. Furthermore, Fujitsu is promoting initiatives to advance its concept of "Healthy Living" initiatives under its business brand Fujitsu Uvance, which aims to realize a sustainable future for humanity. Through this joint research, Fujitsu aims to contribute to the solution of challenges in the medical field by developing technologies that combine its strengths in AI and HPC. Fujitsu will simultaneously work to create use cases in the drug discovery field to integrate into its Fujitsu Computing as a Service (CaaS) portfolio, a suite of cloud services that makes advanced computing and software technologies readily available to everyone.Comment from Seishi Okamoto, Fujitsu Research Fellow, Senior Vice President of Research Unit, Fujitsu Limited:As demand for the rapid development of effective drugs increases, expectations are mounting for the successful introduction of IT drug discovery. At present, however, major challenges persist in the full-scale implementation of IT drug discovery in society, including the time and accuracy of calculations, and limitations surrounding target diseases and drugs. RIKEN and Fujitsu will work together to transform the drug discovery process by truly integrating computing technologies such as the supercomputer Fugaku with leading edge AI and machine learning technologies.Comment from Yasushi Okuno, Director of HPC- and AI-driven Drug Development Platform Division, RIKEN Research Center for Computational Science:While the importance of AI and DX is being emphasized in various fields, efforts are being made worldwide to accelerate drug discovery research using these digital technologies in the drug discovery field. In this joint research project, Fujitsu and RIKEN will collaborate to develop the world's best computational technology for drug discovery using the world-class supercomputer Fugaku. We will work to ensure that the result of this joint research is useful to patients around the world who expect new drugs.(1) The supercomputer Fugaku:A computer installed at RIKEN as a successor to the K computer. From June 2020 to November 2021, it ranked first in 4 categories in the supercomputer rankings for 4 consecutive terms. Full operation started on March 9, 2021.About FujitsuFujitsu's purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. As the digital transformation partner of choice for customers in over 100 countries, our 124,000 employees work to resolve some of the greatest challenges facing humanity. Our range of services and solutions draw on five key technologies: Computing, Networks, AI, Data & Security, and Converging Technologies, which we bring together to deliver sustainability transformation. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$32 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022 and remains the top digital services company in Japan by market share. Find out more: www.fujitsu.com.About RIKENRIKEN is Japan's largest comprehensive research institution renowned for high-quality research in a diverse range of scientific disciplines. Founded in 1917 as a private research foundation in Tokyo, RIKEN has grown rapidly in size and scope, today encompassing a network of world-class research centers and institutes across Japan. https://www.riken.jp/en/about/ Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
Tokyo and Reykjavík, Iceland, Apr 13, 2022 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Fujitsu and Atmonia ehf., an Icelandic start-up company developing a sustainable process for ammonia production, today announced signing of an agreement regarding conduct of joint research to accelerate catalysts development for the clean production of ammonia, leveraging on high-performance computing (HPC) and AI technology.As the world races to achieve carbon neutrality, ammonia represents a promising alternative to fossil fuels as an energy source that does not emit CO2 when burned and is easier to transport than hydrogen. The two companies will conduct high-speed quantum chemical calculations using HPC and AI technologies to accelerate the selection and optimization of new catalytic materials for sustainable ammonia production.Based on the results of this joint research, the two companies ultimately aim to establish a clean ammonia production method as a basis for power generation and hydrogen energy and to contribute to the discovery of new materials to achieve a carbon-zero future.Background and ChallengesAmmonia offers a potentially promising alternative to fossil fuels and engines that run on ammonia are already available. However, the emission of large amounts of CO2 during industrial processes to produce it remains a major challenge. Ammonia is currently produced on an industrial scale using the Haber-Bosch(1) process, which relies on hydrogen sourced from fossil fuels. Retrofitting the industrial process to use hydrogen sourced from electrolysis of water is possible. However, this is a more energy intensive route and does not fit well with the intermittent nature of renewable sourced electricity (such as solar/wind) as the Haber-Bosch process requires a continuous source of hydrogen to maintain operation of the downstream processes, which in turn requires uninterrupted source of electricity.In addressing this issue, Atmonia has been conducting research on innovative methods to produce ammonia by only using water, nitrogen from air, and clean electricity. To develop new catalysts that can produce ammonia using protons from water and nitrogen from air, Atmonia aims to further expand and improve the efficiency of its research in catalysts for ammonia production by conducting various tests to simulate chemical reactions using quantum chemical calculations.Outline of the joint researchWithin the joint research, the two companies will leverage HPC technology and AI technology for scientific discovery(2) developed by Fujitsu, as well as simulating data on ammonia production accumulated by Atmonia to conduct high-speed quantum chemistry simulations of a wide range of catalysts. The research will focus on the development of technologies for the discovery of new materials that can reduce the time required for selecting catalytic materials and optimizing surface structures(3).By identifying new catalysts for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction, the two companies aim to promote a carbon-free next-generation energy carrier that contributes to the goal of realizing carbon neutrality.1. Period : April 13, 2022 to March 31, 2023 2. Responsibilities of the two companies :Fujitsu- Develop technology for high-speed simulation to discover new catalysts using HPC technology for quantum chemistry simulation.- Develop AI technology for the discovery of new materials, and new catalyst candidates for ammonia synthesis.Atmonia- Provide data from simulations and experiments on catalyst candidates and reaction environments for the nitrogen reduction reaction.- Provide methodology for examination of catalyst search, interpretation method, and know-how for selection of simulation methods.- Verification and evaluation of the developed technology for the discovery of new materials.Future PlansThe two companies will work to establish a clean ammonia production method, where the ammonia can be used as sustainable fertilizer, fuel for combustion and energy carrier, promoting efficient methods for the discovery of new materials with the ultimate goal to contribute to efforts to achieve zero carbon emissions.Fujitsu will further leverage technologies to accelerate chemical simulations developed during this joint research as well as AI technology and principles from Materials Informatics(4), to support companies that develop new materials.(1) Haber-Bosch method :A method for producing ammonia by fixing hydrogen with nitrogen (directly under high temperature and pressure conditions) over an iron-based catalyst.(2) HPC technology and AI technology for scientific discovery :HPC technology and AI technology for scientific discovery developed in a joint research project with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS, as follows) that started in fiscal 2021.(3) Fujitsu and Atmonia conducted research to efficiently discover new reaction mechanisms including the adsorption between substances by calculating the reaction energy and reaction rate between nitrogen and hydrogen and catalysts to reduce the time required for selecting catalytic materials and optimizing surface structures.(4) Materials Informatics :field of study to accelerate the discovery of new materials by combining data science and AI technologies with technologies to simulate and analyze the synthesis of materials that can reduce time and costs necessary for development of new materials to a great extent.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 126,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.6 trillion yen (US$34 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About AtmoniaAtmonia is a Icelandic tech startup company developing a sustainable process for ammonia production. Atmonia's mission is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions with new technologies in the field of ammonia and nitrate production. The company's technology is both economical and environmentally friendly, and will contribute significantly in the fight against global warming. Atmonia's new technology will produce ammonia from air and water and will emit no greenhouse gases, but the current ammonia production method is responsible for 1-2% of the world's anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. For more information, visit www.atmonia.com. Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
Foster City, CA, Shanghai and Hangzhou, China, Jan 12, 2022 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Apollomics Inc. an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of mono- and combination- oncology therapies, today announced that the management team will host two upcoming webcasts to accommodate participants from the U.S. and China. Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Guo-Liang Yu, PhD, will be joined by Sanjeev Redkar, PhD, Co-Founder and President, K. Peony Yu, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, and Wilson W. Cheung, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, to provide a strategic overview and an update on the Company's pipeline programs.Session Dates/Times:Session U.S. Pacific U.S. Eastern China EuropeEnglish January 26th 11:00 a.m. January 26th 2:00 p.m. January 27th3:00 a.m. January 26th 8:00 p.m.Chinese January 26th 7:00 p.m. January 26th 10:00 p.m. January 27th 11:00 a.m. January 27th 4:00 a.m.All are invited to listen to the event and view the presentation via webcast on the Apollomics website under the News/Events section: Events and Presentations ( https://www.apollomicsinc.com/press-releases/events-presentations/ ). An archive of the webcast will be available for three months.About Apollomics Inc.Apollomics Inc. is an innovative biopharmaceutical company committed to the discovery and development of monotherapies and combination therapies of tumor-targeting and immuno-oncology agents. The Company's product pipeline has several programs at different stages of development, including novel, humanized monoclonal antibodies that restore the body's immune system to recognize and kill cancer cells, and targeted therapies against uncontrolled growth signaling pathways. Apollomics has operating entities in Foster City, California, USA, Hangzhou and Shanghai, China. For more information, please visit www.apollomicsinc.com.Contact Information:Investor Contact:Wilson W. CheungChief Financial Officer(650) 209-4436wcheung@apollomicsinc.comU.S. Media Contact:Remy BernardaCorporate Communications(415) 203-6386remy.bernarda@apollomicsinc.comChina Media Contact:Porda Havas International Finance Communications GroupKelly FungGeneral Manager(852) 3150 6763kelly.fung@pordahavas.com Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
LONDON, Oct 19, 2021 - (ACN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - WARC, in partnership with TikTok (www.tiktok.com) and Publicis Groupe (www.publicisgroupe.com/fr/splash), have today released a new study exploring the role social communities play in influencing purchase decisions, outlining the huge potential for brands to engage with audiences and increase unplanned purchases by narrowing the funnel between product discovery and purchase.Alex Brownsell, Senior Editor - Media, WARC said: "As social media's popularity and influence continue to grow, community commerce is rapidly evolving to provide an innovative, effective and fast-paced way for brands and retailers to sell directly to consumers. The findings in this report will help marketers seize new opportunities to deliver brand growth through these social communities."The survey-led study, "From Discovery to Purchase: The Role of Community Commerce", outlines the following insights:(1) Community commerce as an emerging opportunityAccelerated by the ongoing shift to digital, community commerce - defined in this report as entertaining creator-driven social content featuring brands - sits at the intersection of community, shopping and entertainment. With the right approach and authenticity, brands can fit seamlessly into this social environment and engage with audiences as they congregate around particular interests, hashtags or creative stories. Brands offering genuine value exchange and willingness to test and learn are already reaping the rewards.Amy Lanzi, EVP, North America Practice Lead, Publicis Commerce, comments: "The intersection of community, shopping and entertainment is what's really different about TikTok. I can move from being entertained by my favourite creators into a shopping moment - or telling my friends about it or sharing it - pretty easily."(2) Discovery and inspiration disrupt the path to purchaseSocial platforms have disrupted the purchase journey, which is now led by spontaneous discovery and inspiration. Every moment on a platform is an opportunity for conversion, and authentic creativity is key to attracting and retaining the audience's attention.With social platforms inspiring 70% of consumers to shop, even when they weren't looking to, the power of community can drive engagement and stimulate decision-making. John Dillon, EVP, Chief Brand Officer, Denny's says "... The creative should be based in that community. Don't do ads, do stories. That's really the magic we see and that's why platforms like TikTok have the ability to enable brands to get back to being creative and telling stories."(3) Propelling purchase decisions Social platforms' role as a connector makes it an ideal place for brands to reach their audiences, and by collaborating with creators, brands aren't just placing themselves in front of people anymore, they're becoming part of communities, and that drives action.To maximise opportunities, brands must make the most of technologies that facilitate a seamless community commerce experience. All product categories have the potential to convert audiences: beauty, clothing and accessories led the way, and now luxury and automotive are also maximising opportunities.Daniela Mercado, Head of Mobile Marketing, Samsung Electronics America, notes: "Beauty and fashion are definitely leaders in social media. They have done an incredible job, and because of the success that they have seen, the more expensive brands are following."(4) Content creators are the new brand storytellersCreators are invaluable for driving the engagement that facilitates community commerce. They boost discovery (78%), educate and inform their audiences (76%), and inspire their audiences to try new products (73%). Community is the new version of word-of-mouth, making it a powerful force for all types of social commerce, and the opinions of followers can boost or block sales. It stimulates belonging, information-sharing, and ultimately demand for your product through the powerful influence it can wield. Kevin Shapiro, Senior Vice President, US Marketing - Consumer Beauty, Coty, said: "Influencers are really important because they each have their own reason for loving our brands. It's fun to discover why someone is using our products, and we like to elevate and share those voices of discovery because they are authentic and true."The "From Discovery to Purchase: The Role of Community Commerce" study is based on a global survey of 2,230 consumers, 18-45 year-olds using two or more social media platforms (including TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Kwai), across 11 markets (Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States), as well as one-on-one interviews with 18 C-suite marketing leaders (including Coty, Denny's, Disney Parks, Mondelez, Monster, Nestle, Samsung Electronics, TikTok and Publicis Groupe) and analysis of WARC's latest proprietary research. A complimentary copy of the report is available to download from content.ascential.com/tiktok-report-download.html. The study includes chapter analysis, data analytics, case studies, expert commentary from industry leaders and implications for brands. Copyright 2021 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. (via SEAPRWire)
TOKYO, Apr 7, 2021 - (JCN Newswire via SEAPRWire.com) - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501) and Axcelead, Inc. today announced that they have agreed on a comprehensive collaborative partnership to develop solutions contributing on more efficient creation of next-generation biopharmaceuticals with digital technology and drug discovery platform. Hitachi has also made investment to Drug Discovery Gateway Fund ("DDG Fund") managed by Whiz Partners Inc. (President: Atsushi Matsumura, "Whiz"). Axcelead is the flagship portfolio company of DDG Fund.With continuous progress of life science, practical applications of next-generation biopharmaceuticals with new therapeutics modalities(1) demonstrating better balance of efficacy and side-effect, such as genes-, cell-, and mRNA(2)- therapeutics, have been recognized. Those new drug discovery modalities are also contributing to the speedy and variety development of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19.On the other hand, next-generation biopharmaceuticals are more expensive to develop and manufacture than low-molecular-weight pharmaceuticals, and due to their nature, the product stability and effective period and product life are shorter, and it would be better to develop and manufacture products with small quantity and high variety. Manufacturing costs and risks tend to be high.Through this collaboration, Hitachi and Axcelead will develop solutions that support the more efficient creation of next-generation biopharmaceuticals with digital technology and drug discovery platforms, and also support entities that participate in this field. In addition, the both companies will jointly promote the development of specialized human resources who are familiar with the development and manufacturing of next-generation biopharmaceuticals.Hitachi, with over 100 years deep experience in manufacturing industry, has provided many companies with variety of solutions utilizing Lumada, which accelerates digital innovation by combining OT, IT, and products. In the field of regenerative medicine, Hitachi provides automated cell culture equipment for iPS cells, cell processing facilities, manufacturing execution systems, biosafety cabinets, etc., to pharmaceutical companies and research institutes according to customer needs.Axcelead is a drug desicovery platform company group, having its core company, Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc. ("ADDP"), which took over the drug discovery platform business of Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. ("Takeda") and started Japan's first integrated drug discovery solution provider business in 2017. With the investments from DDG Fund, Axcelead sees the horizontal division of labor of pharmaceutical companies as a business opportunity, and has desided to entered the mRNA therapeutics CDMO(3) busienss, DDS(4) technology development business, and drug development business. Axcelead by themselves are going to build ecosystem in this field.Hitachi and Axcelead aim to contribute to improving QoL (Quality of Life) for human through medical innovation with next-generation biopharmaceuticals.(1) Therapeutics modality: A general term for the mechanism of action, materials, and treatment methods of drugs.(2) mRNA: Abbreviation for messenger RNA, a blueprint for making proteins. It is made from DNA in the cell's nucleus and is degraded shortly after it is used to make proteins.(3) CDMO (Contract Development Manufacturing Organization): A pharmaceutical contract manufacturing and development organization that is entrusted by a customer and makes into practice on behalf of, which are not only pharmaceutical manufacturing but also development.(4) DDS (Drug Delivery System): A technology aimed at maximizing the effects of drugs and minimizing side effects by controlling the distribution of drugs in the body.About Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is focused on its Social Innovation Business that combines information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and products. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal year 2019 (ended March 31, 2020) totaled 8,767.2 billion yen ($80.4 billion), and it employed approximately 301,000 people worldwide. Hitachi drives digital innovation across five sectors - Mobility, Smart Life, Industry, Energy and IT - through Lumada, Hitachi's advanced digital solutions, services, and technologies for turning data into insights to drive digital innovation. Its purpose is to deliver solutions that increase social, environmental and economic value for its customers. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at https://www.hitachi.com.About Axcelead, Inc.Axcelead is a group of companies that develops a drug discovery platform business centered on ADDP, Japan's first integrated drug discovery solution provider, which took over Takeda's drug discovery platform business in 2017. Axcelead, is the flagship portfolio company of DDG Fund, which was jointly established by Whiz and Takeda in 2018, with the aim of promoting the drug discovery ecosystem in Japan, and will make various contributions to healthcare broadly and globally. Copyright 2021 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. 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TOKYO, Nov 30, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Wren Therapeutics Ltd. today announced that the companies have entered into an exclusive research collaboration agreement aiming to advance the discovery of novel small molecules that target alpha-synuclein for the potential treatment of synucleinopathies including Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.Wren possesses a novel network kinetics drug discovery platform that precisely quantifies the effects of small molecules on the protein misfolding and aggregation pathway that causes neurodegenerative diseases. Wren's approach to synucleinopathies is focused on identifying novel small molecules that selectively control the aggregation process of alpha-synuclein, which is associated with the onset and progression of these diseases. The collaboration will use Wren's network kinetics drug discovery platform, alongside Eisai's extensive experience in drug discovery for neurodegenerative disorders, to accelerate the development of clinical candidates.Dr. Samuel Cohen, Chief Executive Officer of Wren, commented: "We are delighted to have formed this collaboration with Eisai, a company with a distinguished track record and company-wide commitment to providing innovative treatments for patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. We believe that by combining our unique, predictive and quantitatively driven platform with Eisai's deep expertise in neurology, we can together advance highly differentiated small molecules targeting alpha-synuclein for the treatment of debilitating protein misfolding disorders such as Parkinson's disease."Dr. Teiji Kimura, Vice President, Chief Discovery Officer of the Eisai Neurology Business Group, commented: "Synucleinopathies such as dementia with Lewy bodies and Parkinson's disease represent a significant unmet medical need due to the lack of any effective disease-modifying treatments. The accumulation of alpha-synuclein oligomers with protein misfolding is an important hallmark of these diseases. The Wren team, with its world-renowned founding scientists, is pioneering a new and fundamentally different approach to addressing protein misfolding diseases. By integrating capabilities across both companies we expect this exciting collaboration to be uniquely successful in identifying novel disease-modifying therapeutics for patients suffering from dementia with Lewy bodies, Parkinson's disease and related disorders."About Wren's novel network kinetics drug discovery platformWren's proprietary network kinetics drug discovery platform enables an entirely new approach to drug discovery, designed specifically to address the unique challenges associated with protein misfolding diseases. The kinetics-based approach solves for the distinct molecular reaction network that underlies each misfolding disease and produces a fully predictive, quantitative map of the network and its dynamics. The platform identifies the optimum intervention points in the network to reduce the populations of toxic misfolded and aggregated species, and subsequently makes it possible to identify and optimise molecules with the desired kinetics inhibitory activity.About SynucleinopathiesSynucleinopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterised by the aberrant misfolding and aggregation of alpha-synuclein in neurons and glial cells. Synucleinopathies include Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and multiple system atrophy (MSA).About Eisai Co., Ltd.Eisai Co., Ltd. is a leading global research and development-based pharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan. We define our corporate mission as "giving first thought to patients and their families and to increasing the benefits health care provides," which we call our human health care (hhc) philosophy. With approximately 10,000 employees working across our global network of R&D facilities, manufacturing sites and marketing subsidiaries, we strive to realize our hhc philosophy by delivering innovative products to address unmet medical needs, with a particular focus in our strategic areas of Neurology and Oncology. As a global pharmaceutical company, our mission extends to patients around the world through working with key stakeholders to improve access to medicines in developing and emerging countries.For further information on Eisai Co., Ltd., please visit https://www.eisai.com.About Wren Therapeutics Ltd.Wren is a spin-off company from the University of Cambridge (UK) and Lund University (Sweden), focused on drug discovery and development for protein misfolding diseases. Wren is advancing an entirely novel approach to address this class of diseases, based on more than a decade of research from its scientific founders focused on the chemical kinetics of the protein misfolding process. Wren's predictive, quantitative platform is built on concepts from the physical sciences and is a fundamental shift from the descriptive, qualitative methods of traditional biology, which have failed to successfully address these complex systems. Wren is using its unique approach to develop a broad pipeline of therapeutics for protein misfolding diseases.For further information on Wren, please visit www.wrentherapeutics.com Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com
TOKYO, Nov 13, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - PeptiDream Inc., a public Kanagawa-based biopharmaceutical company (TSE:4587), Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702), Mizuho Capital Co., Ltd. which is a consolidated subsidiary of Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Takenaka Corporation and KISHIDA CHEMICAL CO., LTD. have agreed today to establish PeptiAID Inc., a joint venture company that will research and develop peptide therapeutics capable of neutralizing both the current SARS-CoV-2 virus (Coronavirus Disease "COVID-19") and potentially any future Coronavirus ("CoV") outbreaks that may occur. With the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic posing an unprecedented global challenge, there is a significant need for efficacious therapeutics for this disease. The public has high expectations for a slate of new vaccines, however, even with an effective vaccine against COVID-19, the existence of effective therapeutic agents will be indispensable to the proper control of the disease going forward. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly paramount to prepare for any future CoV pandemics that may occur, in addition to the current COVID-19. PeptiDream has been applying its proprietary Peptide Discovery Platform System "PDPS" technology in a multi-pronged strategy toward identifying peptide candidates targeting different sites/regions of the CoV viral "spike" protein, which is essential for coronavirus to enter human cells. Concurrently, PeptiDream has been in discussions with a number of potential discovery and development partners from both industry and academia around the fastest development routes. In the midst of this global public health emergency, companies from all industries, outside of the pharmaceutical industry, have come to recognize a common social mission, and have looked for ways to contribute in this global fight against COVID-19. PeptiDream, Fujitsu, Mizuho Capital, Takenaka Corporation and KISHIDA CHEMICAL share this common social mission and believe that rapidly developing effective therapeutics for COVID-19 is of the utmost importance. As such, the five companies have agreed to establish PeptiAID aimed at the rapid development of therapeutics to treat the current COVID-19 and any future CoV diseases. PeptiAID, will obtain PeptiDream's COVID-19 candidate compounds, and strive to rapidly complete preclinical studies and advance them into clinical testing. In addition to fully leveraging PeptiDream's accumulated expertise and know-how in macrocyclic peptides and drug discovery, PeptiAID will harness Fujitsu's high-performance computing (HPC) technologies, as well as its Digital Annealer, a quantum-inspired computing architecture that rapidly solves combinatorial optimization problems, to further accelerate the relevant studies. Furthermore, PeptiAID will aim to shorten development times by running many of the early studies in parallel. PeptiAID will look to partner with regional pharmaceutical companies to further expedite late stage clinical testing, development, and commercialization efforts.PeptiAID OverviewName: PeptiAID Inc.Establishment: October 2020Headquarter: 3-25-23, Tonomachi , Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, JapanRepresentative: Keiichi Masuya, Ph.D. (current Executive Vice President of PeptiDream)Capital: 599 million Japanese yen (projection as of 31/12/2020)Ownership: PeptiDream 25.0%, Fujitsu 25.0%, Mizuho Capital 24.9%, Takenaka Corporation16.7%, KISHIDA CHEMICAL 8.3% (projection as of 31/12/2020)Comment from Keiichi Masuya, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, PeptiDream"I would like to express my deepest respect to four companies for their great supports in a moment of global crisis like the present, which I also find is a sobering reminder of the importance of accomplishing this common social mission across industries. Since April 2020 when PeptiDream's efforts to discover therapeutics for the treatment of Coronavirus Disease was announced publicly, a number of peptide candidate compounds have been successfully obtained and now at PeptiAID, we are determined to do our best to advance preclinical and early-stage clinical developments in the shortest possible time. Furthermore, we will strive to bring the therapeutics for the treatment of Coronavirus Disease to the market as early as possible, exploring possible collaboration with pharmaceutical companies with strong expertise in late-stage clinical development in relevant regions."Comments from Izumi Nagahori, Head of Digital Software & Solutions Business Group, Global Solutions Business, Fujitsu"Fujitsu's Purpose is to make the world more sustainable by building trust in society through innovation. We are very pleased to play a role in this venture, which exemplifies our commitment to these values, and allows Fujitsu to contribute further to the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic. We hope to accelerate the discovery of drug candidates for the treatment of COVID in joint research with PeptiDream, leveraging our unique technologies like the Digital Annealer and supercomputers. Ultimately, we aim to establish a new foundation for the drug discovery process for the New Normal era through the power of digital transformation."Comments from Yusuke Omachi, President, Mizuho Capital"Amid growing demand for advanced medical technology centered on infectious diseases due to the COVID-19 pandemic, "Mizuho Life Science Fund No.1 Limited Partnership" was established in January 2020 for 5 billion yen in order to strengthen financial support for innovation companies working on the development of advanced medical care; subsequently, the Fund was expanded to 10 billion yen in June 2020. While the early development of radical therapeutic agent for COVID-19 is an urgent issue, the establishment of PeptiAID Inc has great social significance. We, Mizuho, take an equity stake through Life Science Fund as the only financial institution in the "All Japan Project", which is constituted of five domestic private companies. In addition, we practice "Open & Connect", which is an action agenda of five-year management plan; through this, as whole group, we offer financial support and reinforce business development as a strategic partner. It is our earnest hope that the effective therapeutic agent for COVID-19 would be delivered to medical sites at the earliest possible date, and we sincerely hope that we could make a contribution to realize it."Comments from Masato Sasaki, President, Takenaka Corporation"Together with using our group's comprehensive capabilities to contribute to "urban creation" so that people can live safely and with peace of mind, Takenaka aims to deepen dialog with society and stakeholders, and realize a sustainable society by solving societal problems. Amid the growing need of therapeutics for infectious diseases worldwide, PeptiDream's high aspirations for development of therapeutics as well as this new company's intention to solve the problems facing the world today through the knowledge and technologies of its investors will contribute to the realization of cities and societies where people can live safely and securely. This is why we have decided to participate in this project."Comments from Mitsuhiro Kishida, President, KISHIDA CHEMICAL"We have been working to position the services that support drug discovery research at Japanese pharmaceutical companies as one of our important businesses for about 20 years.We are pleased to support the new company that undertakes the drug development of COVID-19 with a high aim and company-wide efforts. We sincerely hope that the drugs being developed in the new company will reach patients as soon as possible and people around the world will be able to return to their normal lives without anxiety."About PeptiDreamPeptiDream Inc. is a public (Tokyo Stock Exchange 1st Section 4587) biopharmaceutical company founded in 2006 employing our proprietary Peptide Discovery Platform System (PDPS), a state-of-the-art highly versatile discovery platform which enables the production of highly diverse (trillions) non-standard peptide libraries with high efficiency, for the identification of highly potent and selective hit candidates, which then can be developed into peptide-based or small molecule-based therapeutics. PeptiDream aspires to be a world leader in drug discovery and development to address unmet medical needs and improve the quality of life of patients worldwide. For further information, please visit www.peptidream.com.About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About Mizuho Capital and Mizuho Financial GroupMizuho Capital is an integral part of the Japan-based Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.(TSE:8411), one of the largest financial institutions in the world, offering comprehensive financial and strategic services including private banking and venture capital through its subsidiaries. The group has over 900 offices and 60,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries throughout the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. As of December 31, 2019, its total assets were $1.8 trillion. Learn more about Mizuho Financial Group at www.mizuho-fg.com.About Takenaka CorporationTakenaka Corporation is one of the largest architecture, engineering, and construction firms in Japan. With annual sales of $12 billion, 20 overseas offices, the largest construction R&D laboratory in the world and over 2,000 architects in the design department, Takenaka offers comprehensive services worldwide across the entire spectrum of space creation from site location and planning to design and construction as well as postcompletion services such as building maintenance. For more information, please see https://www.takenaka.co.jp/takenaka_e/.About KISHIDA CHEMICALKISHIDA CHEMICAL was established in 1941, as a comprehensive manufacturer of reagents, we have expanded not only general reagent business, but also battery material business, drug discovery support business and life science business. And we have continuously grown as a fast and flexible company that can respond to a wide range of our customers' needs. Based on the slogan "All for Our Customer's Research and Development", we will continue to contribute to our customers' success in research and development through "Reliable Technology and Reliable Quality". For more information, please visit our website https://www.kishida.co.jp/english/ Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com