[JAXA:0516] Strategic Partnership Agreement between JAXA and PeptiDream Inc. And Latest Results

June 9, 2017 (JST)

Strategic Partnership Agreement between JAXA and PeptiDream Inc. And Latest Results from the High-Quality Protein Crystal Growth Experiment (Fee-Based) on the Japanese Experimental Module of the International Space Station,"Kibo"

PeptiDream Inc. (PeptiDream), a Tokyo-based public biopharmaceutical company, and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), a national research and development agency, has established a strategic partnership for the High-Quality Protein Crystal Growth (PCG) experiment on the Japanese Experimental Module ("Kibo") of the International Space Station (ISS). This strategic partnership agreement (this Agreement) is a renewal of the current fee-based contract and represents a further expansion of the relationship between PeptiDream and JAXA. Under this Agreement, the number of experimental protein samples to be investigated is increased six-fold over the original agreement, and the term is further extended from August 2017 to August 2020.

PeptiDream and JAXA originally entered into a fee-based Agreement in February 2016. Under this original Agreement, JAXA has crystallized the HER2 receptor with a non-standard cyclic peptide (the drug candidate) provided by PeptiDream. The first space experiment was conducted on Kibo from February to March 2017, followed by diffraction data measurement and structure determination. The crystal (of the HER2-peptide complex) grown in space gave a substantially higher resolution than those crystals attained on the ground. The crystal structure clearly showed the macrocyclic drug candidate bound to the HER2 receptor and revealed an unprecedented binding mode. These results provide critical information that PeptiDream can now use to further optimize the HER2 targeting macrocyclic peptide candidate and accelerate its development.

The Strategic Partnership Agreement between PeptiDream and JAXA leverages each other's strengths. Utilizing Kibo as an "Drug-design supporting platform", PeptiDream and JAXA strive to obtain structural information on target proteins and their drug candidates swiftly and efficiently, aiming to produce best-in-class and first-in-class drugs for the world as well as Japan.

1. Results Overview
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html#at1

2. Background of the Original Fee Based Strategic Agreement
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html#at2

3. About the Strategic Partnership Agreement between JAXA and PeptiDream Inc.
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html#at3

Message from Patrick Reid, Senior Vice President and Keiichi Masuya, Vice President
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html#comment

Reference:
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html#ref


URL:
http://global.jaxa.jp/press/2017/06/20170609_protein.html


PeptiDream Inc.
National Research and Development Agency Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)

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