New research collaboration to study RNA-binding proteins for the creation of new therapeutic target candidates

Just days after announcing their collaboration with CiRA on iPS cell research, Takeda has entered in to another collaborative research agreement with Keio University School of Medicine and Niigata University regarding the search for and functional analysis of disease-related RNA-binding proteins.

This may lead to treatments in the areas such as CNS and oncology.

This collaboration is scheduled to last three years, with Professor Hideyuki Okano of the Physiology Laboratory at Keio University School of Medicine directing the overall research, with Associate Professor Masato Yano from Niigata University participating as well.

Research collaboration will focus on the systematic and comprehensive study of RNA-binding proteins

The relationship between disease pathology and RNA-binding proteins has gradually become clearer in recent years, and a diseases’ onset and progression is now thought to be linked to abnormalities in RNA-binding proteins. This research collaboration will focus on the systematic and comprehensive study of RNA-binding proteins, with the aim of creating new therapeutic target candidates and game-changing technologies for drug discovery.

“We hope to produce innovative results for drug discovery through the uniting of our research on RNA-binding proteins with Takeda’s science technology platform,” said Professor Hideyuki Okano, Keio University School of Medicine.

By collaborating with both universities, Takeda hopes to create ground-breaking medicine

“I am very excited to welcome Professor Okano, who is one of the world’s leading researchers engaged in RNA-binding proteins, into this important Initiative,” said Tetsuyuki Maruyama, General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Research Division. “By collaboration with both universities, Takeda hopes to create the new ground-breaking medicine that patients are waiting for.”

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