Scientific Collaborations (open innovation)
Kyowa Kirin is engaged in global R&D with a focus on three priority disease areas: bone & mineral, intractable hematological diseases/hemato oncology and rare diseases. In collaboration with external partners, we actively promote open innovation pushing the boundaries of healthcare through the application of key modalities, such as advanced antibody technologies and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy.
Focus disease areas
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Bone & mineral
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Intractable
hematological diseases/
Hemato oncology -
Rare diseases
Key modalities
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Advanced therapeutic antibodies
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Hematopoietic stem cell gene
therapy
Our open innovation approach goes beyond traditional external collaboration. Through long-term and strategic joint research, we aim to generate new scientific findings and translate them into meaningful benefits for patients. A hallmark of this approach is our over 35-year partnership with the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). This partnership, which serves as a bridge between basic research and drug discovery, has contributed to important breakthroughs and exemplifies the open innovation we strive for.
Cases #1Kyowa Kirin × La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI)
Over 35 years of collaboration at the forefront of immunology
Kyowa Kirin and the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI) have been collaborating at the forefront of immunology since 1988 — over 35 years. Through this long-term partnership, the two organizations have jointly promoted numerous projects and advanced research in disease areas such as ulcerative colitis, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and atopic dermatitis.
A key strength of this partnership is its ability to provide a bridge from basic research to clinical development. Kyowa Kirin and LJI conduct research across a broad range of diseases, aiming to discover new treatments and bring them to clinical stage. In recent years, some projects have progressed to the clinical trial stage, and tangible results have begun to emerge.
If your research or technology relates to Kyowa Kirin’s focus areas, please contact us for more connections.
Strategic Partnering
Guiding by our strategy "Story for Vision 2030" to realize our Vision 2030, Kyowa Kirin regards proactive strategic partneriing as a core growth driver. Within our focus disease areas and modalities, we have actively promoted long-term collaborations with partner companies that share our values across all phases of drug discovery, development and commercialization.
Through this strategy, we aim to accelerate the global launch of products, to bring life changing value for patients globally, and address unmet medical needs.
Cases #2Kyowa Kirin × AstraZeneca
Expanding options for severe asthma treatment worldwide through
our partnership with AstraZeneca
Leveraging our proprietary POTELLIGENT® technology, we created a novel antibody drug for asthma. Clinical trial results show that this new drug — which has a different mechanism of action from existing treatment — has the potential to significantly improve symptoms by directly and rapidly eliminating eosinophils linked to asthma exacerbation. To bring this medication to patients as quickly as possible, we entered into a licensing agreement with AstraZeneca, a company with high level of expertise in respiratory diseases and extensive experience in global drug development. Today, this medication is one of the medical options available worldwide to help people living with severe asthma and its indications have also been expanded to other eosinophil-associated disease which is helping more patients.
Cases #3Kyowa Kirin × AMGEN
A 40-year partnership behind seven breakthrough therapeutic drugs
Kyowa Kirin and Amgen have jointly developed numerous biopharmaceuticals through a long-standing collaboration. In 1984, the two companies established a joint venture, Kirin-Amgen. By combining the brewing technology of Kirin Brewery with the genetic engineering technology of Amgen, we achieved mass production of erythropoietin — a hormone that stimulates red blood cell production — paving the way for a treatment of renal anemia.
This partnership, forged from the integration of technologies across different industries, has since introduced seven therapeutic drugs in areas including blood disorders and autoimmune diseases and is now expanding into the development of novel treatments for allergic diseases targeting the OX40 receptor.
Our Partners
We are committed to delivering innovative drugs by forming strategic partnerships with a diverse range of pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies, and academic institutions through an open and flexible approach.
