Shinkiba Lab is trying to develop new antibody drugs for blood cancer.
First of all, please give me an overview of your company.
Meiji Seika Falma Tsuchiya: In connection with the reorganization of Meiji Co., Ltd. (former Meiji Seika Kaisha, Ltd., former Meiji Dairy Co., Ltd.), which manufactures and sells confectionery, food, dairy products, etc., the Company was established as a company responsible for the manufacture and sale of ethical drugs. Within the Group, KM Biologics Co., Ltd., which inherited the vaccine and blood products business from the Research Institute of Chemistry and Serum Therapy (Chemics Research Institute), is currently taking on the challenge of research and development of new drugs in cooperation with the company. Our specialty areas are infectious diseases and mental and nervous system diseases, but recently we are also challenging new areas such as vaccines, immune inflammation, and malignant tumors.
Meiji Seika Falma Chikada: In hematology, we believe that antibiotics are actively used to prevent infectious diseases, so we can expect synergistic effects with existing businesses, and we are focusing on research and development in the blood cancer area for malignant tumors. These products are introduced from other companies, but some products have already been launched on the market.
Meiji Seika Falma Ishida: Actually, I used to be at the Department of Hematology, Iwate Medical University, and have been treating many blood cancer patients. Even after retiring from the university, he still treats patients once a week as a part-time doctor at Tokyo Metropolitan Sumito Hospital. Although I have no experience in drug discovery research, I know how blood cancer treatment and the drugs needed at the site, so I spend every day at Shinkiba Lab to discuss the ideals of new drugs with young researchers.
Holding safety seminars and various lectures in the lab is a great study.
You already have a laboratory, but could you tell us about the role of the new laboratory?
Meiji Seika Falma Chikada: Shinkiba Lab is taking on the challenge of research and development of antibody drugs. Our research on antibody drugs is still in an early stage, and I think we will continue to hit the wall many times in the future, but with the help of other companies working at Shinkiba Lab, we understand that it is the role of our researchers to nurture new seeds and eventually make Hanasaki Kashi.
Please tell us why you decided to move into Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1.
Meiji Seika Falma Tsuchiya: The reason is "place". In research and development of blood cancer, I wanted to promote it in an open environment, and with the help of teachers who are familiar with blood cancer treatment, I wanted to take on the challenge of “open innovation” to develop new drugs. Shinkiba Lab is close to Tokyo Station and Haneda Airport, and has good access from academia in the Kanto region. I decided here because it is also excellent in moving to the Tokyo Head Office (Chuo-ku).
Please let us know if there is a point that you know when you move in, "I'm good here in Shinkiba Lab".
Meiji Seika Falma Tsuchiya: One of the good points about Shinkiba Lab is that Mitsui Link Lab will actively hold workshops on safety education and handling hazardous materials. Our research institutes also invite external lecturers to conduct seminars, but in terms of cost and labor, it is quite difficult to operate the seminars. During the lunch break, we also had the opportunity to listen to the broadcast of lectures by prominent teachers (hosted by Link-J), which helped our open innovation route.
Meiji Seika Falma Terashima: Waste management and facility management were quite burdensome, and in the past, it was difficult for researchers to do so by themselves. Mitsui Link Lab is a wonderful environment where researchers can concentrate solely on research because all facilities are managed by the lab side. Lectures (hosted by Link-J) on themes that are highly relevant to current research, such as triple-specific antibodies, will be broadcast, so it will be a great study. Science-related magazines from Japan and abroad are always available at the cafe booth in the museum, so I would appreciate it if you could easily read science magazines after a break.
Do you have any exchanges with other companies working in the same Link Lab Shinkiba 1?
Meiji Seika Falma Chikada: Unfortunately, there has been no progress in specific contracts yet, but for example, I had the opportunity to consult with you about the safety and efficacy of antibody drugs. In order to refer to the design of our lab, we had the opportunity to visit the labs of other companies under the mediation of Mitsui Link Lab. This is also a rental lab with multiple tenants, so it's a possible exchange. Regarding daily exchanges, there is an increasing number of people who can greet them when they meet in shared spaces, etc. at social gatherings.
We hope that we will continue to grow together with Mitsui Link Lab.
Finally, please tell us about the future you want to achieve at Mitsui Link Lab.
Meiji Seika Falma Ishida: We would like to create an antibody drug that leads blood cancer to "healing" from Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1. Even today, there are several treatments that achieve "remission", but only a few drugs can achieve "healing". As a result of discussions with the researchers, Shinkiba Lab has been working together to "create drugs that can cure blood cancer," and has been challenging for the past few years. This is not only a company's goal, but also a researcher's dream.
Meiji Seika Falma Terashima: As one of the researchers at Shinkiba Lab, I would like to take advantage of the wonderful environment for Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 to succeed in the current project. There are various other tenant companies in the lab, so I would like to work on joint research with other companies.
Meiji Seika Falma Tsuchiya: We are currently challenging the new challenge of "creating new drugs in the blood cancer field" through Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1, but at the same time, I think this lab business will be a new challenge for Mitsui Fudosan. I hope that as we work together to grow together, the location of Shinkiba will become the foundation for fostering the life science industry in Japan. I would like to have a relationship that will continue to grow together for that day.
