Shionogi has initiated a collaborative research effort to identify drugs active against COVID-19 with the Hokkaido University Research Center for Zoonosis Control. The research has identified a number of promising lead compounds from internal in vitro studies. The company is accelerating drug discovery efforts with the aim of starting clinical trials later this year. Shionogi is committed to the pursuit of effective compounds given the possibility of a long-lasting outbreak and pandemic.
UMN Pharma, a group company of Shionogi, is pursuing the discovery and development of a recombinant protein vaccine for COVID-19 utilizing its unique Baculovirus Expression Vector System technology. This project began in March 2020 and is supported by the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) [Representative of Research and Development: Dr. Hideki Hasegawa, Director of Influenza Virus Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases]. Shionogi plans to start clinical trials in Japan within the year.
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“Our key focus at Shionogi is to protect people from the threat and consequences of infectious diseases. We are not limiting ourselves to the research and development of therapeutic medications, but are also focused on the total care of infectious disease through awareness building, prevention and diagnosis,” said Akira Kato, Ph.D., president and CEO at Shionogi Inc. “Shionogi will continue to strive to fulfill its social responsibility and to contribute to recovering the safety and security of society by bringing forward new tools and technologies for the treatment of COVID-19.”