Drug discovery is a process that is established when these two elements are aligned: "target molecules that can control specific conditions" and "modalities that can control the target molecules". When products resulting from "target × modality" are proven to improve disease symptoms and even lead to healing, they gain value as a pharmaceutical product.
Molecular biology, which developed since the 1980s, has clarified the signaling and physiological mechanisms of unicellular to multicellular organisms, and has made it possible to talk about the pathophysiological mechanisms of humans at the molecular level. Both the two elements of "target" and "modality" are born from the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of living organisms. The development and progression mechanisms of infectious diseases, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, immune diseases, CNS diseases, metabolic diseases, etc. have progressed, and many drug discovery targets have had the opportunity to see the light of day. Modality (drug discovery technology) that controls these targets have also evolved not only organic synthesis, which boasts a long history, but also to protein medicine, antibody medicine, nucleic acid medicine, cell and regeneration medicine, and genome editing technology. Currently, the world of drug discovery has created many new drugs due to the continuous evolution of "target × modality", and the way unmet needs of the past have been greatly changed. Many diseases, called geriatric diseases, have entered the territory of controllable to a considerable extent. However, there are still many cases where symptomatic therapy is only available, and if the level leading to individuality and complete healing is ideal, it has not yet reached a level that can be satisfied. In addition, the variety of modalities has increased, but I think that it is far from the optimal level for pathology.
In a nutshell, the Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platformｓ (DMP) plays a role in further accelerating the evolution of "target × modality" with RIKEN's science and technology. This program started on April1, 2010 under the first program director Gotoh, and since then, it has achieved great results with 16 clinical stage up /corporate licenses. These 16 cases are small molecules and antibody drugs in which 9 cases focused on new targets and became product candidates after screening, and 7 cases are results in the field of cell and regenerative medicine, which are considered to be new modalities. Adjuvant vector cell (aAVC) technology, a particularly original modality, has moved to the clinical stage and have a significant impact on future drug discovery. DMP drug discovery under the new system in fiscal 2021 will focus on clear unmet needs and will focus on innovative modalities (drug discovery technology) and new targets (drug discovery targets).
The "DMP Basic Strategy" is summarized in the following three categories.
In the past, the evolution of modality has been a major driving force in creating the evolution of drug discovery. We will challenge this approach to promote the evolution of "target × modality" by making full use of riken's advanced technology related to life sciences. Specifically, we will start with the following items and gradually challenge the direction of new evolution.
RIKEN is full of science and technology that produces two elements of "target" and "modality", and I am confident that if we release this power toward drug discovery with our own point of focus, we can realize further evolution of drug discovery on our own.
| name | Cluster for Science, Technology and Innovation Hub Program for Drug Discovery and Medical Technology Platforms |
|---|---|
| inauguration | April 1, 2010 |
| Program Director | Hiroshi Okazaki (Ph.D.) |
| purpose | We will promote seeds related to "target × modality" born from basic research as a theme or project for drug discovery and medical technology in order to optimize drug discovery processes in pharmaceutical companies and technologies that are actually utilized in the medical field. Specifically, we aim to discover excellent seeds cultivated in basic research, optimize them using drug discovery infrastructure units and external networks installed at RIKEN centers, etc., and ultimately alliance with companies and medical institutions. |
The business development office handles alliances for collaboration with companies, universities, and external research institutes. It is also involved in licensing intellectual property rights to companies in collaboration with RIKEN Innovation.
Mission of Translational Research Office (TRO), the competent team which consists of number of experts of translational research (TR) from industry, academic TR institutes, regulatory organizations, is to support projects establishing clinical development plan.
