Entrepreneurial Support Program(Explore Course)
- Principal Investigator
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Tokyo University of Science
Yuya Terashima
- Adopted Theme
Practical Application of Drug Discovery Platform Technology and Therapeutics Targeting Novel Immunoregulatory Molecules.
- Subject of Research
- Practical Application of Drug Discovery Platform Technology and Therapeutics Targeting Novel Immunoregulatory Molecules.
- Overview
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G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) have long been a cornerstone of pharmaceutical innovation, historically driving the development of over 50% of all drugs. In recent years, however, traditional GPCR drug discovery has encountered significant hurdles: a scarcity of novel targets, coupled with challenges in achieving sufficient efficacy and minimizing side effects, has reduced GPCR-based drugs to just 30% of the market. As a result, the global search for new drug discovery paradigms has intensified.
Breaking new ground, the research team has identified FROUNT, an intracellular signal-regulatory protein that binds to chemokine receptors—key players among GPCRs—in the immunoregulatory system. By targeting FROUNT, the team is constructing a drug discovery platform start-up aimed at unlocking novel class of molecules that modulate GPCR signaling in the immunoregulatory system with highly efficacy and minimal side effects.
- Business Models（when applying）
The company is planning a B2B2C business model, targeting pharmaceutical companies as its primary customers. This model is built around two main activities: in-house drug discovery and drug discovery support/joint development. For each intractable disease in focus, the company will supply foundational drug development platform technology seeds by selecting immunoregulatory molecules as new drug targets and providing drug pipeline seeds generated through the process, supporting the development of therapeutic drugs.
- Activity Planning（when applying）
The following research and development activities are planned for the practical application of original drug discovery technology seeds and drug discovery seeds.
① Development of a Drug Target Protein Library : Establish a comprehensive library of immunoregulatory molecules to serve as potential drug targets for a range of intractable diseases and a technological platform that can provide optimal drug target molecules for each disease.
② Refinement of Core Drug Discovery Technologies : Establish a unique drug development platform technology by improving and developing technologies to identify 1) new immunoregulatory proteins that specifically modulate pathogenic signals induced by individual GPCRs, and 2) small molecule compounds that can modulate the function of the obtained immunoregulatory proteins identified in 1).
③ Validation of the Drug Development Platform : Accelerate the progression of the drug pipeline by leveraging the aforementioned platform technology, advancing candidates toward clinical research readiness and fostering strategic collaborations, including partnerships and out-licensing opportunities with pharmaceutical companies. Through this process, the drug development platform’s potential will be demonstrated, paving the way for commercialization following the establishment of a start-up company.