A Japanese delegation will initiate a partnership with University of Dundee seeking to develop new treatments for inflammatory diseases. Scientists and executives from Ono, Japan's oldest pharmaceutical company, will meet with leading researchers from the University's School of Life Sciences to mark the start of the collaboration, which will see the Dundee team help Ono to launch a new drug discovery project.

Ono are seeking to develop a new therapy for common inflammatory diseases based on scientific discoveries made in Dundee.

Professor Sir Philip Cohen, of the School of Life Sciences, said, "We are delighted to welcome Ono to Dundee to mark the beginning of a partnership which once more demonstrates the reputation of the University as one of the world's foremost centers for scientific excellence.

"Ono are the longest-standing pharma company in Japan and we are delighted to be working with a partner with such a proud history in drug discovery. International collaboration is the key to overcoming the world's biggest health and wellbeing challenges and both parties are at the forefront of this global fight."

"We have the highest regard for the expertise and research activities at University of Dundee and highly anticipate the collaboration will result in identifying a novel drug having high potential," said Dr Kazuhito Kawabata, a member of the board of directors, executive officer and executive director of Discovery and Research at Ono.
Based in Osaka, the Ono Pharmaceutical Group can trace its history back 300 years and its research and development-focused approach sees them follow drug discovery leads that are high in certainty and globally competitive.