Pharmaceutical Research Department
Providing Pharmaceutical Products with High Added Value Based on the Results of Proprietary Cancer Research
The role of the Pharmaceutical Research Department is to develop new pharmaceutical products that have high added value by utilizing the results of our research in the cancer field. In addition, it is also developing a broad range of generic drugs.
Research areas
- Search for new useful ingredients
- Elucidation of active principles and synthesis of derivatives
- Non-clinical trials for novel anti-cancer drugs
- Formulation designs
- Analysis of pharmacokinetics
It Begins with the Anti-Cancer Activity of Lactic Acid Bacteria
In 1978, it was found that the company's Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota has immunostimulatory action mediated anti-cancer properties. This led to the launch of research and development on an anti-cancer drug, and the company's pharmaceutical research was carried out along with the preventive medicine initiative. This research has become the cornerstone of the Pharmaceutical Research Department which specializes in oncology.
Yakult's Pharmaceutical Products That Have Been Introduced to the Global Field of Medicine
Campto (irinotecan hydrochloride), which is a plant-derived agent for cancer chemotherapy developed by Yakult, has been adopted at the forefront of cancer treatment not only in Japan, but also around the world primarily in the United States and Europe.
In addition, Elplat (Oxaliplatin), which is an agent for cancer chemotherapy introduced by Yakult, is widely used as the first option in battling colorectal cancer both in Japan and internationally. Its application range has broadened due to it being authorized for use against stomach cancer.
Aiming to Develop Anti-Cancer Drugs with Little Side Effects
The Pharmaceutical Research Department puts the utmost importance on the creation of new anti-cancer drugs with little side effects. It searches for specific molecules involved in cancer growth and metastasis, and aims to create substances that target those molecules by using genetic analysis and computer science.
Research Framework for Consistent Product Creation (Drug discovery)
The Pharmaceutical Research Department covers everything from basic to development research such as the search for new substances that possess anti-cancer properties, their synthesis, pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. They have a framework and equipment to carry out consistent product creation work to discover new anti-cancer agents, and are working on proprietary pharmaceutical research and development in order to contribute to the health of as many people as possible.
