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As a leading company in dementia, we have always been at the forefront of innovative therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease (AD) with the creation of Aricept and LEQEMBI.
Given that AD drug discovery is currently a global “moonshot” project (challenging research and development aiming to create innovations based on bold ideas that are not extensions of conventional technologies), it is crucial for scientists from various sectors to concentrate their collective strengths, including specialized knowledge, ideas, and technology while fostering mutual trust and sharing a common goal. Our open innovation ecosystem has been created to realize this concept, aiming to create comprehensive solutions for prediction, prevention, treatment, and care in dementia through pharmacotherapeutics and non-pharmacotherapeutics.

We are seeking proposals from scientists with unique ideas and research programs in the following areas for the development of therapeutic drugs targeting AD and broader dementia, following amyloid β and tau.

Under the principles of trust, long-term commitment, collaborative work, and shared goals, we have formed partnerships with multiple universities and companies:

In 1990, ºÚÁÏÍø concluded a joint research agreement with UCL and have been conducting basic research on the central nervous system at the ºÚÁÏÍø London Research Institute, which was established within UCL in 1993. Since 2012, we have developed our collaboration to leverage the extensive knowledge accumulated at UCL to create innovative medicines for neurodegenerative diseases. A Phase 2 clinical trial for E2814, an anti-MTBR tau monoclonal antibody, is currently underway.

We have been collaborating with Keio University since 2017. Our joint efforts focus on the discovery of novel drug targets for AD through in-depth analysis of cohort studies managed by Keio University.

Our collaboration with Washington University in St. Louis began in 2022, with the aim of establishing a novel conceptual framework for neurodegenerative diseases by employing cutting-edge technologies available at Washington University in St. Louis.

In 2023, the research collaboration NEURii was initiated in conjunction with the University of Edinburgh, LifeArc, Health Data Research UK, and Gates Ventures. Our shared objective is to develop digital diagnostics and therapeutics for dementia by utilizing the vast amount of medical health data accumulated in the United Kingdom.

Since 2005, we have had a fruitful collaboration with BioArctic AB, focusing on the drug discovery of lecanemab. Our dedicated efforts in this collaboration have resulted in the traditional approval of lecanemab as a treatment for AD by the U.S. FDA in 2023.

In 2016, we established a collaboration with Sysmex Corporation with the goal of developing a blood-based diagnostic test for AD. Through our joint efforts, we successfully obtained an approval for an In Vitro Diagnostic (IVD) in 2022. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our pursuit of more accessible and effective diagnostic tools for AD.

By joining forces with these esteemed institutions and organizations, we strive to advance our collective understanding and capabilities of drug discovery in the field of neurodegenerative diseases.

To learn more about Open Innovation, contact us .