Boosting Research & Development into Neglected Tropical Disease TreatmentsEisai Participates in WIPO-Sponsored Global Consortium for Open Innovation Partnerships

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November 10, 2011

Eisai is the only Japanese pharmaceutical company to have joined “WIPO Re:Search”, a new global consortium launched in Geneva on 26th October, 2011. The consortium is sponsored by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) with the aim of supporting research and development for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), malaria and tuberculosis.

WIPO Re:Search brings together WIPO, non-profit organizations, research institutions and pharmaceutical companies. In order to facilitate new partnerships to spur the development of new drugs, vaccines and diagnostics for NTDs, malaria and TB, Eisai and other member organizations will voluntarily share intellectual property and expertise with the global research community via a public database managed by WIPO. All intellectual property registered in the database is provided on a royalty-free basis for all research and development for NTDs, malaria and tuberculosis, as well as for sale of final products in Least Developed Countries.

Eisai has provided seven candidate compounds to the database, including a compound that shows potential as a leishmania treatment, an infectious disease that is endemic in developing countries. Where possible, Eisai has committed to provide quantities of the compounds that researchers could use. Eisai has also provided funds to support the consortium's efforts to promote research and development partnerships by user organizations.

WIPO Re:Search is one of Eisai's open innovation partnerships. In these partnerships we share goals and commitments with our partners and work together on common projects. Eisai believes that in many cases innovative treatments which meet patients' needs can be most efficiently developed by integrating ideas, technology and knowledge from a wide range of stakeholders.

For further details, please see our News Release on 26th October, 2011, via the link below.