Promoting Quick Drug Discovery of World-class Quality
Seishi Katsumata
Corporate Officer / Executive Director, Discovery & Research
Promoting Quick Drug Discovery of World-class Quality
Seishi Katsumata
Corporate Officer / Executive Director, Discovery & Research
ONO’s history in drug discovery is challenges. We are promoting extremely aggressive open innovation such as acquiring unique drug discovery seeds through research partnerships with academia, and creating innovative new drug candidates through drug discovery partnerships with bio-venture companies with cutting-edge technologies, aiming to create innovative new drugs that address unmet medical needs. Recently, we have been accelerating the search for new drug discovery seeds and shortening the time to compound creation by using AI to analyze and utilize the vast amounts of information obtained from pioneering research, and with this are working to improve the success rate and speed of drug discovery. Additionally, we are actively promoting opportunities for our researchers to study abroad at collaborative research institutions, and to take up positions at research centers in the U.S. and Europe that explore opportunities for research and drug discovery collaborations, thereby raising the level of and engagement with each researcher. Looking forward, we will create systems to promote rapid drug discovery of world-class quality.
Drug Discovery Strategy
Our four priority areas of research and development
In our research and development, based upon our drug discovery strategy of “creating unique and innovative new drugs” we have identified oncology, immunology, neurology, and specialty areas as priority areas where there is a high level of medical needs. In each of these we are actively pushing forward with open innovation to both deepen our understanding of human disease biology, and to aim to create new drugs that can fulfill unmet medical needs. In addition, we are working to improve the quality and speed of drug discovery research through the use of digital technology. As of June 2024, a total of 11 new drug candidates in our priority therapeutic areas have proceeded to the clinical stage, and we are also continuing to bolster our efforts in translational research, bridging the gap between basic and clinical research. By organically leveraging informatics and research tools, such as human genome data and human iPS cells in the early stages of research, we are working to analyze the relationship between target molecules and diseases to find biomarkers that can more accurately predict and evaluate the efficacy of new drug candidates in humans, and to strive to improve the success rate of drug discovery.
Additionally, by establishing research centers that specialize in priority areas, we will accumulate and utilize disease know-how and further delve into human disease biology, and we are striving to strengthen the competitiveness of our drug discovery capabilities in order to create new drugs that meet medical needs. Animal experiments, which are essential for drug discovery research, are conducted in accordance with the law and related guidelines, and we ensure that they are conducted properly in consideration of the 3Rs* and animal welfare.
*3Rs…Replacement, Reduction, Refinement
Open Innovation is the Lifeline of ONO
Collaboration with top scientists worldwide
In the 1960s, we identified new drug discovery seeds through partnerships with universities and other research institutes in drug discovery research into prostaglandins, and this led to the creation of innovative new drugs. This drug discovery activity through collaboration between industry and academia occurred more than 30 years before Professor Henry Chesbrough of Harvard University proposed the concept of open innovation in 2003.
Today, there are nearly 300 research/drug discovery partnerships active both in Japan and overseas. Partnerships with a sense of urgency are required to obtain the latest research information ahead of competitors and to move forward with drug discovery. The Discovery Research Alliance Department and the Corporate Business Development Department cooperating with Research Centers and Clinical Development Divisions are taking the lead in collaborating on research with world-class scientists and forming drug discovery alliances with a focus on our priority research areas, and are actively in-licensing various drug candidates.
Disease Expertise Enhancement
In drug discovery research, we focus on four therapeutic areas -- Oncology, Immunology, Neurology, and Specialty -- as priority research areas. We accumulate knowledge and expertise of diseases in each of these priority areas at the Research Centers of Oncology, Immunology, Neurology, and Specialty, (respectively established in the priority areas), with the aim of discovering new drugs for disease treatment that is high in medical needs where patient satisfaction with current treatment is low.
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Priority Area |
Major Initiative(s) |
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Oncology |
As a pioneer in cancer immunotherapy, the CenterONO works toward discovering innovative drugs for cancer patients with the experience, expertise, and know-how we nurtured through R&D of the immune checkpoint inhibitor OPDIVO. The Center isWe are also striving to find unique drug discovery seeds through open innovation and translational research. Furthermore, we are taking on the challenge of using new drug discovery modality. |
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Immunology |
Based on many years of its experiences in immunology research, which contributed to creating OPDIVO, ONO is working toward drug discovery with a main focus on biopharmaceutical development. We are taking on the challenge of creating breakthrough new drugs for both autoimmune and allergic diseases. |
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Neurology |
ONO conducts research focused on various topics, including not only neurons, a major component of the nervous system, but also glial cells, which maintain and support the environment necessary for the survival and function of neurons. We are dedicated to discovering innovative drugs to provide disease-modifying therapies, as well as symptomatic treatments, to patients with neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders or chronic pain. |
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Specialty |
ONO is working toward discovery of clinically valuable pharmaceutical products for diseases for which treatment is high in unmet needs, regardless of the disease indication. We have taken up the challenge of accurately identifying those needs in patients, medical professionals, and society, and then leveraging this knowledge to discover and develop highly original new drugs. |
Characteristics of research and development
We aim to create new drugs that will bring innovation to the medical field by focusing on disease areas with high medical needs. To this end, we will strengthen and expand research and drug discovery alliances with world-leading universities, research institutes, and bio-venture companies in specific research fields, introduce innovative compounds in fields with high medical needs, and introduce new technologies. We are also actively promoting acquisition.
