Takeda and BioCurate to accelerate early stage discoveries of new therapeutics

BioCurate, a joint venture between Monash University and The University of Melbourne with support from the Victorian State Government, has signed an agreement with Takeda Pharmaceutical to share commercial and scientific expertise with the aim of accelerating the discovery and development of new therapeutics and drugs.

Takeda and BioCurate will collaborate directly and via participation in BioCurate’s Industry and Scientific Advisory Committee to assess new therapeutic candidates arising from BioCurate’s academic partners.

BioCurate was established with a specific focus to fast-track research discoveries into early therapeutic development by addressing the barriers that limit the translation and commercialisation of early-stage research. The company’s goal is to build a sustainable capability in drug development, which entails nurturing projects to be attractive to potential investors or commercial partners. Collaborations such as this ensure promising projects receive critical expert advice and commercial assessment throughout the drug discovery process, thereby streamlining the therapeutic development process.

“BioCurate is very pleased to expand our collaborative linkages with experts who are able to provide invaluable scientific advice, commercial insight and partnering opportunities to BioCurate and Australia’s wider medical research sector,” said Dr C. Glenn Begley, CEO of BioCurate.

Takeda has a unique approach to collaboration that leverages diverse partnership models to unlock the best science no matter where it resides and to translate into life-changing medicines for patients. Each of its partnerships is created with aligned incentives, designed to leverage what each partner does best across academia and industry. Takeda has more than 200 active partnerships, and through its Center for External Innovation, has more than 25 new company creations and 45 venture financings since 2016.

“We look forward to applying the expertise of Takeda’s world-class R&D engine, which spans from target identification through clinical development and commercialization, to our collaboration with BioCurate,” said Steve Hitchcock, Head, Research at Takeda. “Together we will help identify and nurture the discoveries from BioCurate’s ecosystem that have the greatest potential to become transformational new therapies for patients in need.”

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