OhsawaKohei Promoting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seeds creation research with Juntendo University
October 12, 2021 Yamagata, Japan—Metagen Therapeutics (Headquarters: Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, President and CEO: Taku Nakahara, hereinafter referred to as MGTx) joined Juntendo University as a sub-institution for the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)’s FY2021 project* entitled “Project Focused on Developing Key Technology for Discovering and Manufacturing Drugs for Next-Generation Treatment and Diagnosis” (Development of next-generation drug discovery technologies by controlling the intestinal microbiome). This project will conduct research and development aimed towards the development and practical application of a wide range of technologies and methodologies related to intestinal microbiome drug discovery for the creation of intestinal microbiome-controlled drugs.
A research and development project led by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) was adopted as a project for AMED’s “Development of Comprehensive Microbiome Control Platform Technology for Reverse Translational Drug Discovery Toward the Advancement of the Microbiome Drug Discovery Ecosystem”. MGTx is participating in the “Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Seeds Creation Research” as a sub-institution with research institution, Juntendo University.
*AMED’s FY2021 project entitled “Drug discovery basic technology development project for realization of next-generation treatment and diagnosis (Development of next-generation drug discovery technology by controlling intestinal microbiome)” Adopted subject | Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
AMED’s FY2021 project entitled "Drug discovery basic technology development project for realization of next-generation treatment and diagnosis (Development of next-generation drug discovery technology by controlling intestinal microbiome)" Adopted subject | Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED)
【Adopted projects】
AMED FY2021 “Drug Discovery Fundamental Technology Development Project for Realization of Next-Generation Treatment/Diagnosis (Development of Next-Generation Drug Discovery Technology by Controlling the Intestinal Microbiome)”
1. Technology and infrastructure development related to Microbiome drug discovery (Max. 6 years, Annual max. grant amount: 500M JPY)
- Development of Comprehensive Microbiome Control Platform Technology for Reverse-Translational Drug Discovery Toward the Advancement of the Microbiome Drug Discovery Ecosyste (Representative organization: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) seeds creation research
(Research institution: Juntendo University, Sub-institution: Metagen Therapeutics Inc.)
Through this project, MGTx will share the clinical research results of FMT and the genetic information and metabolism of the intestinal microbiota which MGTx has independently constructed so far. Research is carried out by Associate Professor Dr. Ishikawa of Juntendo University School of Medicine, Department of Gastroenterology. We will create new drug discovery seeds for IBD and develop clinical development by bringing together metabologenomics technology that comprehensively analyzes substance information.
For more details on this research, please refer to the press release from Juntendo University here
About Metagen Therapeutics
Metagen Therapeutics (MGTx) is a university-launched venture business based out of Yamagata, Japan. The company was founded in 2020 with the mission of “continuing to fulfill the wishes of patients through microbiome science”. MGTx has been accelerating its exploratory research on intestinal microbiomes and its symbiotic relationship with various diseases such as cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, aiming to create social impact through medical care and drug discovery. The company is led by top researchers in microbiome science from academic institutions including Juntendo University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Keio University. For more information, go to https://www.metagentx.com or follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/metagentx/. For press inquiries or investor inquiries, please email: pr@metagentx.com.