Japan's Chugai Pharmaceutical, which pursues cutting-edge biopharmaceutical, antibody, and molecular targeted research technologies, recently expanded its presence in Singapore with a satellite research institute. The Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR) center has the potential to create innovative antibody drugs and dramatically improve therapeutic effects using Chugai's novel antibody engineering technologies.

At a time when pharma giants are battling the challenge of a drying R&D pipelines, the company is undertaking measures to create original and innovative drugs, both in Japan and overseas, particularly to address unmet medical needs.

In an email interview with BioSpectrum Asia, Mr Osamu Nagayama, chairman, president and CEO of Chugai Pharmaceutical, shares the company's plans in Asia and in antibody development.

Chugai recently opened a research center in Singapore. What will be the focus area of the center?
In Singapore, we aim to generate potential new antibody candidates at Chugai Pharmabody Research (CPR) to help Chugai fulfill its commitment towards developing new antibody candidates. CPR has a specific mission to create new antibody candidates for development, utilizing Chugai's state-of-the-art proprietary antibody engineering technologies: Recycling Antibody and Sweeping Antibody technologies. These technologies are among the most important achievements in Chugai's more than 20-year history in the field of biopharmaceutical research.

Recycling antibodies are antibodies that can bind to the antigen multiple times by recycling the antibody. Conventional antibody can bind to the antigen only once. Sweeping antibodies are those that can actively eliminate the target antigen from the plasma in addition to binding to the antigen.