OREANDA-NEWS. Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited announced its TaNeDS (Take a New challenge for Drug diScovery) collaborative drug discovery project for 2013. The company will select research partners for the project from among researchers based in Japan.

One key objective in Daiichi Sankyo’s Second Mid-term Business Management Plan (FY 2010-2012) is the discovery of new sources of research themes through open innovation. Daiichi Sankyo is implementing a range of sources of innovation for collaboration with external partners. One aspect of this strategy is the collaborative research and grant program TaNeDS, launched in 2011. A large number of research theme proposals were received in 2011 and 2012 from all over Japan, and projects are currently ongoing. Daiichi Sankyo will continue the program in 2013, seeking further drug discovery research possibilities by casting at wide net to find research themes and technologies that will result in the discovery of new drugs. The program will target researchers based in Japan. Furthermore, in 2013, Daiichi Sankyo’s wholly owned subsidiary, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd. (hereafter, RD Novare), will join TaNeDS to promote the development of technology platforms for the next generation.

The TaNeDS project will accept entries for a range of themes, including exploratory research, collaborative research, early-stage drug discovery, concepts for inventions and enhancement of the value of intellectual properties. Themes covering all stages, from the initial phase of research to practical use, will be accepted. In order to attract a variety of entries, both individual researchers and groups will be welcomed.

In order to efficiently realize practical uses from research results, a number of outcomes are foreseen, including purchases of intellectual property, joint research and commissioned research.