December 17, 2018
Asahi Kasei Pharma Corp.

Asahi Kasei Pharma is publicly calling for new proposals related to drug development research as part its efforts for open innovation, to promote pharmaceutical research and development through enhanced cooperation with universities, research institutes, and enterprises around the world. The application period begins on 3:00 a.m. GMT on January 7, 2019, and ends at 8:00 a.m. GMT on February 22, 2019.

Proposals are solicited in relation to new drug candidates and technologies in the therapeutic fields of chronic pain, autoimmune disease, critical care medicine, and bone/cartilage conditions, and platform technologies for drug discovery such as pharmacokinetics/toxicity prediction and pharmaceutical formulation. Submissions will be assessed with respect to their potential as concepts for collaborative research, fostering of research, and identifying medical indications. Further information is available on Asahi Kasei Pharma’s Open Innovation website:

• www.asahikasei-pharma.co.jp/a-compass/en/

Asahi Kasei Pharma established its Open Innovation Department in October 2016 in order to further strengthen and enhance global licensing and alliance-building activities. Open Innovation works to establish licenses, alliances, and research collaborations related to candidate drug compounds up to the preclinical stage as well as advanced drug discovery technologies. The company believes that such efforts to advance drug discovery and research technology will further contribute to life and living for people around the world.

Outline of the call for proposals

Targeted applicants:

Researchers at universities, research institutes, and enterprises outside Japan
(researchers based in Japan should refer to the Japanese website)

Research areas and subjects:

• 1．Chronic pain—new drug candidates, compound evaluation technologies, new drug discovery technologies such as new animal models
• 2．Autoimmune disease—new drug candidates
• 3．Critical care medicine—new drug candidates
• 4．Bone/cartilage conditions—compound evaluation technologies, new drug discovery technologies such as new animal models
• 5．Organic synthesis technologies, structural analysis technologies, membrane protein modeling methods
• 6．Oral absorption technologies for intermediate molecular weight compounds, in silico technologies for adverse event prediction
• 7．Preservation and sustained release technologies for formulations of peptides or proteins
• 8．Identifying medical indications for Asahi Kasei Pharma’s compounds

Funding:

Up to US$50,000 per year for each selected proposal (none for identifying medical indications)

Research period:

1 year (exceptions may apply)

Schedule and selection

Application period:

3:00 a.m. GMT on January 7 to 8:00 a.m. GMT on February 22, 2019

First screening:

Submitted documents will be examined until one month after the end of the application period, and applicants will be notified of results by e-mail no later than March 25, 2019

Second screening:

Selection will be based on information necessary to plan collaborative research and through interviews with applicants during the two-month period from the execution of a non-disclosure agreement, and applicants will be notified of results by e-mail within two months from the start of the second screening

Initiation of collaborative research:

Sequentially after execution of necessary agreements

Selection criteria:

Comprehensive judgment will be made in consideration of congruence with the targeted research subjects, possible conflicts with Asahi Kasei Pharma’s existing drug discovery research, originality and usefulness of the proposed research, and feasibility of the research plan

Announcement of selected proposals:

The number of selected proposals will be disclosed on Asahi Kasei Pharma’s Open Innovation website

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