Research Collaborations, In-licenses and Acquisitions
Toward Continuous New Drug Discoveries
We are actively pursuing research collaborations with research institutions, including universities, in Japan and overseas, investing in venture companies with innovative technologies, and making acquisitions and in-licensing products under development through strategic investments to expand and strengthen our development pipeline.
Investment and contribution to ventures
We collect information in various ways, including investments in bio-venture funds.
| Investment destination |
Investment fields |
| Apposite Healthcare Fund, L.P. |
Life sciences, healthcare services
Investment in bio-venture fund (PDF/50 KB)
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| Remiges BioPharma Fund, L.P. |
Pharmaceuticals research and development and other life sciences
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma announces Investment in a New Venture Capital Fund (PDF/40 KB)
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| DEFTA Healthcare Technologies, L.P. |
Leading-edge medical treatments and regenerative medicine, next-generation medical devices, and healthcare IoT/ICT
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Announces Investment in DEFTA Healthcare Technologies, L.P. (PDF/105 KB)
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| MPM Oncology Innovations Fund |
Academia and growing early-stage companies that are developing new drug candidate compounds in the oncology area
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Announces Investment in MPM Oncology Innovations Fund (PDF/139 KB)
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| Kicker Ventures I, L.P. |
Early-stage companies that seek business opportunities primarily in the U.S., Canada, and Japan by harnessing digital healthcare technologies such as digital therapy, smart devices, data analysis and artificial intelligence (AI), personalized medicine, and cutting-edge therapeutic devices and pharmaceutical products
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Announces Investment in a Venture Capital Fund (PDF/106 KB)
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Major Joint Research
Here are some of the major joint research projects we are working on with research institutions, including universities, in Japan and overseas. We are also promoting new drug discoveries by implementing “PRISM,” a publicly solicited open innovation activity, to seek original ideas from universities, research institutions, and companies in Japan and conduct collaborative studies that match our needs in drug discovery research.
| Joint research partners |
Research contents |
| The Kitasato Institute |
Sumitomo Pharma is conducting joint research with a drug discovery group led by Dr. Satoshi Omura, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Kitasato University and the 2015 laureate of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, with the aim of discovering new drugs against infections caused by bacteria with antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This joint R&D initiative was selected by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) for its Cyclic Innovation for Clinical Empowerment (CiCLE) grant program. |
| The Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) |
- ①This joint research collaboration between industry and academia, focusing on a rare intractable disease caused by genetic mutation, aims to use induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) to identify the pathognomonic mechanism of the disease, identify the most disease-specific target molecule from various pathological changes of signal transduction, and screen specific inhibitors against the signal pathway. As a result, the aim is to create an epoch-making treatment to suppress detrimental conditions in patients.
- ②CiRA and Sumitomo Pharma are conducting joint research and development to establish the world's first Parkinson's disease treatment using allogeneic iPS cell-derived dopaminergic neural progenitor cells.
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| The Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) and Hitachi Ltd. |
CiRA, Hitachi Ltd., and Sumitomo Pharma are jointly developing the base technology and evaluation methods to establish a production process for dopaminergic neural progenitor cells. This will be used to develop the world's first Parkinson's disease treatment using allogeneic iPS cell-derived dopaminergic neural progenitor cells. These endeavors are part of the "Project Focused on Developing Key Evaluation Technology: Evaluation for Industrialization in the Field of Regenerative Medicine" commissioned by The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED). |
| Healios K.K. |
Healios K.K. and Sumitomo Pharma are conducting joint development in Japan of iPS cell-derived retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE cells) for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases. |
| Keio University and National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital |
Under the Research Center Network for Realization of Regenerative Medicine, a joint initiative between government, industry and academia, Sumitomo Pharma, together with the National Hospital Organization Osaka National Hospital, is taking part as a contributing organization in the Keio University (Professor Hideyuki Okano) project on "Regenerative medicine for spinal cord injury and stroke using iPS cell-derived neural progenitor cells." The goal of the project is to develop a treatment for the transplantation of iPS cell-derived neural progenitor cells for spinal cord injury. |
| RIKEN |
In basic research, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. in partnership with RIKEN has succeeded in generating a three-dimensional retina from human embryonic stem cells, a world first. Following on from this, Sumitomo Pharma aims to create a treatment available using an allogeneic iPS cell-derived three-dimensional retina. |
| The Jikei University School of Medicine and Bios |
The two partners and Sumitomo Pharma are working on joint research and development with the goal of developing renal regenerative medicine using iPS cell-based organogenic niche method, and to achieve its commercialization by fiscal 2027. |
| Carna Biosciences, Inc. |
Carna Bioscience and Sumitomo Pharma are conducting joint research with a view toward discovering novel kinase inhibitors indicated for psychiatric and neurological disorders by combining accumulated Carna Biosciences's know-how on kinase inhibitor discovery with Sumitomo Pharma's know-how on drug discovery research in the area of neuroscience. |
| Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) |
MMV and Sumitomo Pharma are conducting joint research aimed at identifying antimalarial candidate compounds. The Joint Research has been awarded funding from the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund). |
| Ehime University |
Sumitomo Pharma is conducting joint research and development with Ehime University, etc. on new malaria vaccines (Malaria disease prevention vaccine, Malaria transmission-blocking vaccine, Pre-erythrocytic malaria vaccine) |
| NIBIOHN (National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition) |
NIBIOHN and Sumitomo Pharma are conducting joint research for a universal influenza vaccine that provides broader protection against most influenza. |
| Aikomi |
Sumitomo Pharma and Aikomi are conducting joint development of digital medical devices to relieve behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. |
| MELTIN MMI |
Sumitomo Pharma invested in MELTIN MMI and is conducting joint research and development and commercialization of medical devices, etc. through utilizing MELTIN's bio-signal processing and robotic technologies, as part of our efforts to pioneer frontier areas. |
| BehaVR |
Sumitomo Pharma America and BehaVR are conducting joint development of a general wellness product that uses virtual reality (VR) to assist in the management of social anxiety disorder. |
| NeuroSky Co., Ltd. |
Sumitomo Pharma and NeuroSky Co., Ltd. are conducting joint development and commercialization of simple wearable EEG meter for early detection of mental diseases. |
| Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc. |
Sumitomo Pharma and Pixie Dust Technologies, Inc. are conducting joint development and commercialization of a new communication support tool for hard of hearing people. |
| Tsubota Laboratory, Inc. |
Sumitomo Pharma and Tsubota Laboratory, Inc. are conducting joint research and development of violet light to treat/prevent dementia and depression. |
| i2medical LLC and Keio University |
Sumitomo Pharma, i2medical LLC, and Keio University are collaborating to develop software for early detection and severity assessment of depression. |
Strategic Alliances and Acquisitions
We are actively expanding and strengthening our development pipeline by keeping an eye on global trends and acquiring products under development through strategic investments. This section describes the status of products under development at the time of acquisition.
Enzyvant Therapeutics Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) (U.S.)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Completes the Formation of the Strategic Alliance with Roivant Sciences (PDF/115KB)
Urovant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) (U.S.)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Completes the Formation of the Strategic Alliance with Roivant Sciences (PDF/115KB)
Myovant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) (U.S.)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Completes the Formation of the Strategic Alliance with Roivant Sciences (PDF/115KB)
Altavant Sciences Ltd. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) (U.S.)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Completes the Formation of the Strategic Alliance with Roivant Sciences (PDF/115 KB)
Tolero Pharmaceutical, Inc. (currently, Sumitomo Pharma America, Inc.) (U.S.)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Completes Acquisition of Tolero Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US Biotechnology Company) (PDF/63 KB)
Major in-licensed products
With in-licensing and partnerships, we are considering a wide range of products with priority given to those in the later stages of development, mainly in the areas of psychiatry and neurology, oncology, and rare diseases. This section describes the status of planned indications at the time of in-licensing and partnerships.
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Japan)
JCR and Sumitomo Pharma Enter into Co-Promotion Agreement in Japan for IZCARGO® I.V. Infusion 10 mg,a Recombinant Therapeutic for Mucopolysaccharidosis Type II (PDF/160KB)
JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Japan)
JCR and Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Enter into Marketing Alliance for Agalsidase Beta BS I.V. Infusion [JCR], for Treatment of Fabry Disease in Japan (PDF/171KB)
Sinovant Sciences HK Limited (China)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Announces Acquisition of Rights for Certain Sinovant Development Compounds in China and Other Asian Countries (PDF/135 KB)
Novartis Pharma K.K. (Japan)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Signs a Co-Promotion and Sales Collaboration Agreement for Diabetes Treatments Equa and EquMet in Japan (PDF/110 KB)
Poxel SA (France)
Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma and Poxel Announce Strategic Partnership for Development and Commercialization of Imeglimin, an Investigational Therapeutic Agent for Type 2 Diabetes, in Japan, China and Eleven Other Asian Countries (PDF/191 KB)
Torii Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (Japan)
Toray Receives Japanese Approval for Additional Indication of Pruritus Treatment REMITCH CAPSULES 2.5 μg and Promotion to Start (PDF/117 KB)
PTC Therapeutics,Inc.(Acquired from Bio Electron Technology Corporation)(U.S.)
Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma signs a License Agreement with Edison Pharmaceuticals for therapeutic agents for mitochondria disease (PDF/31 KB)