Tokyo and Henisdorf, Germany, October 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE:4503, President: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., “Astellas”) and Pantherna Therapeutics GmbH (CEO: Klaus Giese, Ph.D., “Pantherna”) today announced that the two companies have entered into a new technology evaluation agreement for research to generate mRNA-based regenerative medicine. announced that it had signed Medical programs using direct reprogramming (transdifferentiation)*.
The agreement expands the scope of technology evaluation agreements for research. Astellas and Panthana Sign in 2021including new target organs.
Pantherna owns a proprietary platform of state-of-the-art unique mRNA molecules (PTXmRNA) to increase the efficiency of mRNA action in the body. Through this agreement, Panthana’s mRNA platform and Astellas Pharma’s world-class drug discovery capabilities will be combined to promote research on the creation of new regenerative medicine programs for target organs using direct reprogramming methods. Astellas will be responsible for providing drug discovery ideas, preparing candidate compounds for technology evaluation, and conducting research to develop this treatment, while Panthana will be responsible for providing technical information and supporting development.
Panthana’s CEO said: Klaus Giese, Ph.D. We are honored that Astellas, a leading pharmaceutical company, has expressed interest in leveraging a unique aspect of its proprietary therapeutic mRNA technology. ”
“Through this agreement, which expands the scope of our collaboration with Panthana, we expect to create innovative regenerative medicine programs for new target organs, thereby expanding treatment options for diseases with high unmet medical need. I said Taiji Sawamoto, Ph.D., Executive Vice President, Applied Research & Operations, Astellas. “Collaboration with Panthana synergistically integrates Astellas’ knowledge of mRNA as a therapeutic modality cultivated in the direct reprogramming research field to develop next-generation therapeutics based on new modalities and technologies. It’s an initiative to drive forward.It’s a focus area approach strategy.”
* Direct reprogramming: direct conversion of cell fate without going through a pluripotent state. https://www.astellas.com/ja/science/direct-reprogramming-research-unit
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company that operates in more than 70 countries around the world. Focusing on biology and modality, we are promoting a Focus Area approach to find opportunities for continuous new drug discovery for diseases with high unmet medical needs. Additionally, we are looking beyond the basic Rx focus to create Rx+.® Healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technologies from external partners in various fields. Through these initiatives, Astellas will be at the forefront of medical change, transforming scientific innovation into value for patients. For more information, please visit: https://www.astellas.com/ja.
About Panterna
Pantherna Therapeutics is a privately held biopharmaceutical company developing best-in-class therapies for vascular disease. Pantherna’s innovative technology platform is based on advanced lipid nanoparticles for the target-specific, selective delivery and expression of therapeutic mRNA drugs in organs and tissues such as the endothelium. Pantherna Therapeutics recently competed against lead candidate PAN004 in the category “Most Innovative Product: Leap Innovations-Nucleic Acid-Based Drug Development”. Received 2022 Pharma Trend Honor.
(https://businesswire.com/news/home/20220916005215/en/Pharma-Trend-Honors-the-Best-Pharmaceutical-Companies-and-the-Most-Innovative-Products_2022). Pantherna is based in his Hennigsdorf (Innovationsforum) in Brandenburg. Berlin, GermanyFor more information, please visit the following website: https://pantherna-therapeutics.com/.
Precautions (Astellas)
Statements in this press release regarding current plans, estimates, strategies, beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements regarding Astellas’ future performance. These statements are based on management’s current assumptions and beliefs in light of currently available information and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) general economic conditions and changes in laws and regulations relating to the pharmaceutical market; (ii) exchange rate fluctuations; (iii) (iv) Astellas’ inability to effectively market its existing and new products; (v) Astellas’ continued effective research and development of products that are acceptable to its customers in a highly competitive market; and (vi) infringement of Astellas’ intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information regarding pharmaceutical products (including those under development) contained in this press release is not intended as advertising or medical advice.
SOURCE Astellas Pharma Inc.
