In line with the reorganization of our business policy, we will focus on drug development research that maximizes the value of medicine.
First of all, please tell us about your business.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: We are a pharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and sells ethical drugs. Currently, we are working mainly on three disease areas (renal dialysis disease, skin disease, allergic disease).
Please tell us about your current research system.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: The Company reorganized its organization in 2020. At that time, we sold our own factory in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, and closed our laboratory. In September 2020, we will establish a new lab at Mitsui Link Lab Kasai in order to maintain and manage the quality and maximize the value of our products for pharmaceuticals that we still sell.
Then, is your Kasai Lab not a base for drug discovery, but a research base for maximizing value?
Torii Pharmaceutical Miyazaki: Yes. In that sense, "drug" may be the word closest to the image.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: Many current trials are clinical trials planned to obtain approval for medicines. We have obtained approval for pharmaceuticals, mainly through trials focusing on the efficacy and safety of new drugs. On the other hand, when medicines begin to be used in clinical practice, various clinical questions can be obtained. In order to answer such questions, we need to obtain new data. This is what we call drug research. Kasai Lab is conducting drug development research to collect evidence in the real world. Through these research activities, we are contributing to the maximization of product value.
What kind of research do you take on every day at Mitsui Link Lab Kasai?
Torii medicine Doi-sama: Currently, Kasai Lab is conducting various joint research with clinical teachers. We mainly analyze clinical samples. We believe that these data analysis will provide results that can be returned to healthcare professionals, including physicians, or patients. Our researchers are working hard every day with a small number of elites.
It is a great point to be able to use facilities in a pharmaceutical company quality environment immediately after moving in.
Please tell us about your encounter with Mitsui Link Lab Kasai.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: In order to reduce and relocate the research scale, it was necessary to find the next in-house lab in a short period of about six months. Initially, there were about four candidates, and we toured all the facilities and finally decided to Mitsui Link Lab Kasai. The biggest decisive factor is the ability to design the lab with a straight drawing, and the excellent access from our head office (Nihonbashi, Tokyo). You can move your head office and lab within 30 minutes. In addition, the scalability of labs that can respond to future expansion of business scale was also very attractive.
When you actually opened your own lab, what kind of impressions do you have now?
Torii medicine Doi-sama: Because Mitsui Link Lab Kasai is located on the premises of Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., I think that it is a great advantage for pharmaceutical companies like us to be able to use it in an environment of pharmaceutical company quality immediately after moving in. The establishment of the operating rules of Link Lab Kasai, and the establishment of in-house facilities such as waste disposal and firefighting equipment, gave us a sense of security for us, which had a limited schedule to opening. It is also helpful that there are plenty of shared spaces where you can take a break on each floor. We also use the shared space when customers visit. Our employees also use cafeterias at Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. for lunch.
Torii Pharmaceutical Miyazaki: The unmanned shop on the first floor is also convenient, and I often use it.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: In September 2023, we will be moving in for the fourth year, but I think that there is no trouble and an environment where it is very easy to work is maintained until today. At the beginning, for example, I was unfamiliar with rules on waste, but now I have experienced various things and have been able to operate the lab well.
Even if the size of one company is small, if you work together, you can create innovation that is as competitive as large companies!
Please tell us about the future you want to realize through Mitsui Link Lab.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: We are also researching immunotherapy for cedar pollinosis. It has been reported that about 40% of Japanese people are affected by cedar pollinosis, and it is just a national disease. It is said that if you suffer from allergies, the quality of life of the patient is greatly reduced. Through drug development research at Kasai Lab, "I would like to aim for a future in which patients suffering from allergies can be free of allergy.
Thank you very much. Lastly, please tell us your expectations for Mitsui Link Lab.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: We are also looking forward to providing opportunities to encourage interaction between tenants. It would be helpful if Mitsui Fudosan could act as a flag for exchange.
Torii Pharmaceutical Miyazaki: If there is an exchange event, there will be more opportunities for conversation.
Torii medicine Doi-sama: I think big companies are taking on the challenge of open innovation. I think there are many small tenants, including our company, but we hope that there will be opportunities for open innovation among tenants working there. If we can provide opportunities and opportunities for new innovations to be born through promotion of exchanges between tenants, we may have such a future. Open innovation between companies is not easy, but we believe that it is important to keep the door open while being troubled by the stormy waves of society.
