Enhancing Efficiency of Pharmaceutical Development

We develop and provide various pre-clinical efficacy evaluation models including the industry’s largest PDX^* collection and screening services to select effective drug candidates from many such candidates. These efforts are contributing to improving the efficiency of pharmaceutical development for pharmaceutical companies. We also provide pre-clinical services using organoids known for having an extremely high similarity with organs. Tumor organoids reflect the tumor characteristics specific to patients. Therefore, it is possible to even more accurately predict the response to drug candidates. It is expected this will improve clinical success rates.

* Patient-derived xenografts (PDX): This is a model in which tumor tissue derived from a patient is transplanted into an immunodeficient mouse. It is effective in selecting drug candidates because it allows an evaluation in an environment similar to that of humans.

Developing Diagnostic Reagents

We provide in vitro diagnostics, research reagents and diagnostic reagent materials. This provides wide-ranging support – from research to diagnosis. We also undertake the contracted development of companion diagnostics which identify patients for whom therapeutic effects can be expected and patients at high risk of developing serious side effects before the administration of pharmaceuticals. This is supporting the development of personalized medicine.

Moreover, Medical & Biological Laboratories (MBL) started providing real-time PCR reagents to detect COVID-19 in March 2020. We have continued to develop and sell many easy-to-operate test kits which give results in a short period of time since then. That has been greatly contributing to supporting measures to fight against COVID-19.

Shortening the Period of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Process

We have advanced technologies relating to analysis, cell line development and manufacturing process development in the development and manufacturing of biopharmaceuticals. With that technology, we also support the process development and manufacturing of molecules with complex structures. Furthermore, we provide an integrated service called “Gene to GMP in 9 months.” It covers the processes from cell line development to manufacturing process development, analysis and manufacturing. This contributes to shortening the period to establish manufacturing processes in biopharmaceutical development.

Providing Bioprocess Materials

We provide process materials used in biopharmaceutical manufacturing such as particles for purification of antibody pharmaceuticals. Our Amsphere^TM A3, a protein A carrier for antibody pharmaceutical purification with its industry-leading performance, is being used in the manufacturing of more than 95 investigational new drugs around the world. It started to be used in the commercial production of antibody pharmaceuticals approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in March 2022.