Science and Technology

Therapeutic modality is a shape or type of medicine defined by its molecular feature.

Before the era of biotechnology, most of the medicines were based on chemical compounds called “small molecule”, with generally having molecular weight of less than 500. The druggable target or the disease using classical small molecule drug was limited.

Biotechnology has opened a new era in the drug discovery. Biotechnology has enabled biotech industry to use recombinant human proteins to treat various diseases. “Monoclonal antibody” is a protein therapeutics that can bind to the target molecule specifically. Now, more than 70 monoclonal antibodies have been approved to treat various diseases. Chugai has pioneered the field of engineered monoclonal antibodies to realize advanced and next generation antibody therapeutics further opening a new era in the drug discovery.

While small molecule drug can be taken orally and penetrate into the cell, it cannot target intracellular protein-protein interaction. On the other hand, while monoclonal antibody drug can target protein-protein interaction, it cannot be taken orally (need to be injected by needle) nor penetrate into the cell. Chugai has pioneered a new field called “Mid-size molecule” with engineered cyclic peptide technology, which can be taken orally, penetrate into the cell and inhibit intracellular protein-protein interaction. Mid-size molecules would allow drugging targets of various diseases that are previously undruggable using small molecules or monoclonal antibodies.

We work on creating innovate drugs engineered antibodies and Mid-size molecules to help patients around the world facing serious illness.