#Japan #Yokohama #Monoclonal Antibodies #Nippon Soda #MabGenesis

Nippon Soda's Strategic Partnership with MabGenesis

In a significant move towards enhancing veterinary healthcare, Nippon Soda (Nihon Soda) has officially signed a collaborative research agreement with MabGenesis, a promising startup based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. This partnership aims to develop new monoclonal antibody drugs specifically designed for pets, namely dogs and cats.

Overview of MabGenesis

MabGenesis specializes in biopharmaceuticals and has over 30 years of academic research experience in antibody development. The company focuses on creating 'first-in-class' and 'best-in-class' therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, leveraging a high-quality phage display antibody library called the MOURA library, alongside various antibody isolation techniques. This unique approach allows MabGenesis to produce high-quality, species-specific monoclonal antibodies, addressing pressing needs in the pharmaceutical industry for innovative drug development opportunities.

Company Profile of MabGenesis

• - Business Name: MabGenesis Inc.
• - Headquarters: 3-7-18 Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
• - Director: Masahiro Shinjo
• - Established: June 3, 2019
• - Focus: Research and development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies.

Purpose of the Contract

Nippon Soda has outlined a long-term vision, titled “Kagaku de Kagayaku 2030,” aiming to contribute to the development of a sustainable society while enhancing corporate value. One of the key areas identified is healthcare. Their research strategy, “Brilliance through Chemistry 2030”, focuses on providing new value solutions in the field of healthcare for both humans and animals.

In recent years, growing concerns regarding the health of elderly pets and changing living environments have increased the demand for safe and advanced veterinary medicine. Particularly, the need for novel treatments for conditions like atopic dermatitis, which are difficult to address with conventional therapies, has heightened interest in monoclonal antibodies. This collaboration with MabGenesis is anticipated to significantly leverage both companies’ technical expertise to accelerate research and development of these innovative substances, thereby addressing urgent social issues in animal healthcare.

Commentary from Nippon Soda’s Executive Officer

Makoto Kato, Executive Officer of Nippon Soda’s Chemical Division, expressed, “Our long-term vision emphasizes the need for advancing healthcare as an important issue. The animal health sector is a crucial area where we can utilize our strengths in chemical synthesis, gained from years of pesticide research. We aim to achieve early commercialization by integrating MabGenesis’s innovative technologies with our own expertise.”

Commentary from MabGenesis’s CEO

Masahiro Shinjo, CEO of MabGenesis, highlighted the excitement surrounding this collaboration. He stated, “We are thrilled to partner with Nippon Soda. By combining our proprietary antibody acquisition technology with Nippon Soda’s development capabilities, we believe we can create groundbreaking veterinary antibody drugs that offer safe and effective treatments for dogs and cats in need.”

Future Developments

The partnership is set to foster the innovative development of monoclonal antibody drugs for pet use, leveraging MabGenesis’s unique antibody generation technologies. Both firms will progressively probe into the technical verification and evaluation with an eye on potential commercialization and application of their findings.

Nippon Soda's mission is to create new value through chemistry, striving for the dual goals of societal contribution and enhancing corporate value. They continue to promote open innovation aggressively, focusing on pet pharmaceutical research and development, while working to provide solutions that address healthcare-related social issues in animals, ultimately aiming to unlock new business opportunities.

About Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1920, Nippon Soda has accumulated unique technologies and expertise in producing high-functional, high-value-added chemical products, including agricultural chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and specialty chemicals. As a company handling chemical substances, they prioritize responsible care in their operations, focusing on environmental, safety, quality, and health considerations. Nippon Soda is committed to creating new values and contributing to a prosperous society through their innovative technologies and products.