Takeda Pharmaceutical Company and the Tohoku University Drug Discovery Strategy Promotion Organization have entered into a strategic alliance (Project Souten), with a goal of building and leveraging an innovative clinical trial network.

Project Souten aims to simultaneously improve the efficiency of clinical development and patient access to medical care over a three-year period, from October 2024 to September 2027.

Tohoku University Hospital will build and integrate the data infrastructure, develop digital tools for various analyses, and utilize the regional medical network and the medical-related data accumulated there for clinical development. This will expedite the identification and registration of patients who are suitable for participating in Takeda-led clinical trials, and the provision of opportunities for patients who are suitable for participating in Takeda-led clinical trials.

It is believed that the optimisation of clinical trials and clinical development plans will significantly improve the efficiency of clinical development and increase expectations for clinical development in Japan from Europe and the United States. In addition, ideas for new drugs and solutions generated from both sides are anticipated, thereby creating a virtuous cycle that can advance to practical applications.

Takeda and Tohoku University have been promoting basic research on pharmaceuticals through joint research with the Tohoku University Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization (ToMMo) to analyse the whole genomic information of local residents, also described as the correlation between genetic background and long-term health status. Project Souten is a progression of these initiatives that aims to contribute to improving patient access to medical care by utilizing the accumulated knowledge and know-how in drug development in Japan and around the world, eliminating drug lag and drug loss.