As a research facility for cutting-edge spatial information analysis, close to Japan's leading academia, including the National Cancer Center.
Please tell us about your business and research.
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: We are a Japanese pharmaceutical company formed by the merger of Yamanouchi Pharmaceutical and Fujisawa Pharmaceutical in 2005. Our main business is the research, development, manufacturing, and sales of ethical drugs, and we operate in more than 70 countries and regions around the world.
Our research activities focus on five areas, including gene therapy, ophthalmology, mitochondrial disease, targeted protein degradation (protein degrator), and cancer immunity. In this context, we established TME iLab as a new base for cancer immunity research.
It seems that TME iLab is conducting cutting-edge research called "Spatial Information Analysis of Cancer Microenvironment". What kind of analysis method is it?
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: There are many types of tumor tissues that act directly and indirectly, such as immune cells that attack cancer cells and cells that interfere with the attack. In the past, the tumor tissue was crushed and characteristic analysis was performed by single-cell seq analysis of the contained cells.
On the other hand, spatial information analysis is an epoch-making method that captures tissue as a two-dimensional hierarchy and can analyze thousands of gene and protein expression information of each of the many cells present in tissues without crushing tissues. We would like to analyze what cells are around cancer cells and what genes and proteins are expressed, elucidate the characteristics of cancer microenvironment, identify new therapeutic target molecules, and identify biomarkers for drugs.
Clinical samples are essential for research, but it is large that the National Cancer Center is adjacent to each other.
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: That's right. In addition to providing clinical specimens, it is very positive for the advice of a professor at the National Cancer Center to provide detailed interpretation of pathological information and pathological tissues. At that time, if you are physically close, you can communicate quickly and frequently. That's one of the reasons why I decided to move into this lab, and I feel really good.
It may also be useful for reverse-translational research conducted in clinical trials of your pipelines.
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: That's right. We hope that we will be able to analyze what is going on in the tumor when the drug works on the patient or the mechanism if it does not work, and to estimate the possibility of combination with stratification biomarkers and other drugs.
How do you want to pursue your research in the future?
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: In addition to joint research with the National Cancer Center, we are seeking a wide range of partners with innovative expertise and technology in the field of cancer microenvironment research. I would like you to use the research equipment installed at this site to create a place where researchers inside and outside the company can engage in discussions. By combining it with Astellas' drug discovery capabilities, we hope to accelerate research on cancer drugs and lead to the creation of innovative drugs.
When will it be fully operational as an open innovation base?
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: We are currently formulating rules for use by outsiders, and I think it will be finalized in April 2024. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. TME iLab (Kashiwa-no-ha) | Astellas Pharma (astellas.com)
We found an ideal external partner base in Kashiwa-no-ha.
What was the motivation and decisive factor for entering Mitsui Link Lab Kashiwa-no-ha 1?
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: With advances in basic science and medical technology, more complex diseases and conditions that cannot be dealt with by conventional treatments are left, and various treatments such as compounds, cells, and genes are increasing. It is difficult for one pharmaceutical company to conduct all these research, and the importance of joint research in collaboration with external institutions is increasing.
We are currently conducting more than 100 joint research projects, but we were planning to build a new base outside of the Tsukuba Research Center in order to move closer and faster in a physical location close to our partner. At that time, I met this lab. The Kashiwa-no-ha area is home to Japan's leading advanced medical facilities and academia facilities, such as the Kashiwa Campus of the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, and the Kashiwa Center of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). Moreover, we can go back and forth with our Tsukuba Research Center by one Tsukuba Express. Indeed, I thought we could build a new external collaboration base that we had imagined.
There is a different way of conducting research that can meet and discuss with front-line researchers immediately.
What are the benefits of moving in?
Mr. Hanada, Astellas Pharma: The physical distance from the National Cancer Center is very close, so I often came here and talked more easily. Even if it is difficult to tell on the phone, if you actually meet, the story will be finalized and you can improve it as soon as you meet. The research has become much easier to advance. Also, here I had the experience of setting up a research institute from scratch. For example, carefully prepare the equipment necessary for experiments to small ones, or if there is something missing, consider a flexible response. Through this experience, I feel that open mind and challenge spirit have increased. This will be useful when working on a variety of research at TME iLab in the future.
Ms. Suzuki, Astellas: Researchers at pharmaceutical companies are also saying that venture minds and entrepreneurial spirits are important from now on, and as a role play, the experience of opening a research institute here is a great learning experience.
What is the status of interaction with other tenants?
Mr. Sato of Astellas Pharma: During the disaster drills for the entire facility, I had the opportunity to meet other tenants. As a result, various people, including academia teachers, were able to recognize that we had moved in and talk. In this way, I would like to increase the time to meet directly.
There are tenants whose business area is different from us, but depending on the approach and way of thinking, we may be able to create innovation together, and I think this is a facility that triggers such a spark. I would like to take care of that possibility, and I would be happy if we could become a starting point.
Mr. Hanada, Astellas Pharma: The seminar of a teacher at the National Cancer Research Center was held at a cafe downstairs, so it was nice to go casually. I would like to participate again.
What are your future goals and prospects for TME iLab?
Ms. Nakao, Astellas: Professor Suzuki, a leading expert in spatial information analysis research, and Dr. Shunpei Ishikawa (National Cancer Center Advanced Medical Development Center) in the field of clinical tumor pathology, can be studied together closely with leading experts in various fields. I would like to use this as a great opportunity to boost my research.
In addition, since we have introduced the world's most advanced analytical equipment, we must first use it to create value for patients. I really want to do that.
In addition, I would like to promote drug discovery by integrating many academia and ventures. Link Lab Kashiwa-no-ha is scheduled for Phase 2 and the number of tenants will increase further, so we hope to expand synergies with those people and lead to new drug discovery.