Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.  and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Singapore (A*STAR) announced that a joint research project between Chugai and A*STAR for an anti-dengue virus antibody has been selected as a grant recipient by the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund). Chugai and A*STAR have been engaged in the joint research since 2015.

This project was born through the collaboration of Chugai Pharmabody Research Pte. Ltd. (CPR), a research center of the Chugai Group in Singapore, and A*STAR’s Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN). The dengue virus that causes dengue fever is known to have four different serotypes. SIgN researchers identified a new human antibody that is highly effective in neutralizing the activity of all four dengue virus serotypes, and CPR applied Chugai’s proprietary antibody engineering technologies to optimize the antibody. This project seeks to create a new antibody drug against the dengue virus. It has been selected to receive US$5.3 million grant based on its recognition by the GHIT Fund for contributing to the “fight against neglected tropical diseases in developing countries.”

Dengue fever is a mosquito transmitted febrile disease that is rapidly spreading in tropical and subtropical urbanized regions. In severe cases, it progresses to the serious and lethal dengue haemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome. This disease is a leading cause of hospitalization and death in many countries in Asia and Latin America. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 390 million people globally are infected with the dengue virus each year, and although an estimated 500,000 of these cases become severe and require hospitalization, there is currently no effective drug for the treatment of dengue fever.

In order to contribute to the healthcare and health of the people in the regions where the disease is rampant, which includes many developing countries, this project seeks to establish treatment methods for dengue fever such as the early alleviation of the symptoms and prevention of lethal, severe cases of the disease.

“Dengue research has always been a top priority at SIgN. Our scientists are working to improve the diagnosis, prevention, and therapies for dengue, and other mosquito-borne diseases. This has led to the creation of a Lab-on-Chip for tropical infectious diseases detection and has helped to explain why certain human skin cells may facilitate the spread of dengue virus infection,” said Lim Chuan Poh, chairman of A*STAR. “A*STAR’s collaboration with Chugai will continue to advance treatment for dengue and create impactful healthcare outcomes. GHIT's support for this public-private partnership is an endorsement of the strength of this research project to combat one of the world’s major infectious diseases.”

“Our mission is to ‘dedicate ourselves to adding exceptional value through the creation of innovative medical products and services for the benefit of the medical community and human health around the world,’ and we are implementing initiatives to contribute to global health,” said Osamu Nagayama, chairman and CEO of Chugai. “Our project selected for this grant is the result of the collaboration of our proprietary antibody engineering technologies and SIgN’s expertise in the biology of the dengue virus. It is our hope that this completely new antibody will put a stop to the spread of the dengue virus.”

The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) was established in April 2013 with contributions from the Japanese government, pharmaceutical industries, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the United Nations Development Programme with the aim of taking control of infectious diseases spreading particularly in developing countries such as AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and “neglected tropical diseases (NTDs)”. The GHIT Fund supports and promotes the research and development of new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic drugs by promoting collaboration between Japanese and overseas research organizations and providing grants.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are parasitic, bacterial and viral infections spread mainly in tropical areas. It has been reported that approximately one billion individuals are infected with NTDs and half a million people die each year worldwide. NTDs are quite rare in advanced countries so that they did not catch world’s attention. Many NTDs are parasitic diseases and may cause severe physical impairment such as deformity and blindness. Nonetheless, they can be often prevented or treated.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology.

The Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), officially inaugurated on 10 February 2006, is a research consortium under the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)’s Biomedical Research Council. The mandate of SIgN is to advance human immunology research and participate in international efforts to combat major health problems.

Chugai Pharmaceutical is one of Japan’s leading research-based pharmaceutical companies with strengths in biotechnology products.