Japan's Nagasaki University and Shionogi & Co. have signed an agreement for the second phase of "Comprehensive partnership in the field of infectious diseases focused on malaria"'

Isao Teshirogi, the Chairman, President, and CEO, commenced the signing ceremony by stating, "We will collaborate with Nagasaki University and other partner institutions to explore all feasible options to eliminate malaria."

Isao Teshirogi mentioned the upcoming mission to "Employ the malaria drug discovery research foundation established in the first phase and concentrate on clinical trials in the second phase."

Over the first five-year period from February 2019 to March 2024, Shionogi is focusing on promoting research in three key areas: research on prevention of serious illness, vaccine development, and discovery of new therapeutic agents. Shionogi has collberated with seven institutions, including Osaka Public University, Ehime University, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and the GHIT Fund (Global Health Innovative Technology Fund), to strengthen and advance our research. 

"As a result of our efforts, we have achieved significant outcomes including the identification of proteins related to lipid metabolism that are involved in malaria severity, the discovery of several potential preventive therapeutics, and the development of a vaccine candidate that uses messenger RNA" explained Isao Teshirogi.

Based on the results obtained, Shionogi will begin clinical trials using the identified compounds as soon as possible in the second phase of our five-year project.