Five-year collaboration to advance translational medicine and accelerate early development of novel therapies
Focus on oncology, rare disease, and cell and gene therapies
Astellas Pharma US Inc. announced today that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with Mass General Brigham (President and CEO: Anne Klibanski, MD) that is focused on translational medicine and early development to establish an integrated approach to scientific advancement and clinical expertise.
Initial projects of mutual interest will be focused in key areas of R&D investment for Astellas, including oncology, rare disease, and cell and gene therapy. Through the alliance, Astellas and Mass General Brigham aim to:
Accelerate innovation through collaborative research, as well as exploring and expanding new research frontiers.
Translate innovative research into clinical trials and actionable solutions that address serious unmet needs and aim to improve healthcare for all.
Leverage scientific and clinical expertise to inform and accelerate the development of novel therapies.
Academic collaborations are a critical component of Astellas' innovation strategy. They underpin the company's ongoing commitment to enhance scientific knowledge, better understand diseases and modalities, optimize clinical trials, and ultimately, transform patient care. Located in Boston, Massachusetts, Mass General Brigham is one of the leading academic medical centers in the United States. The healthcare system has extensive discovery and translational research in all areas, including oncology, rare disease, and cell and gene therapy, through its research initiatives and thematic centers, including the Gene and Cell Therapy Institute. This collaboration will leverage Mass General Brigham's clinical and research expertise, and capabilities including clinical data and human-derived cell models.
Chris Coburn, Chief Innovation Officer, Mass General Brigham
"Industry alliances are critical to advancing novel therapies toward commercialization and bringing the 'bench to the bedside'. This collaboration supports three critical areas of rapid clinical advancement and high patient need: oncology, rare diseases, and cell and gene therapy and reflects our commitment to advancing patient-centered research and innovation."
Tadaaki Taniguchi, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Astellas
"We are incredibly excited about this collaboration with Mass General Brigham – one of the leading biomedical research organizations in the U.S. – and the promise it represents. As a global innovation community, we face significant challenges when exploring complex, potential breakthrough modalities. Only by working alongside the most innovative institutions and experts can we find solutions that can help deliver life-changing value to patients, faster."
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+® healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners.