
A Total Of USD 12.7 Million Investment In New Diagnostics And Drug Development For Ntds And Malaria To Partners Including The Ohio State University, PATH, GSK And Others
Project Title |
Production and pre-clinical testing of cGMP grade Leishmania donovani antigen for Leishmanin skin test (LST) |
Collaboration |
The Ohio State University (USA) Institute of Tropical Medicine at Nagasaki University (NUITM) (Japan) icddr,b (Bangladesh)
|
Disease |
Leishmaniasis |
Intervention |
Diagnostics |
Stage |
Pre-clinical |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 670,108,468 (USD 4.2 million) |
Status |
Continued project |
Summary |
[Project objective] [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: G2024-114
Project Title |
Lead optimization and preclinical studies of new antimalarial Gwt1p-inhibitors with a novel mechanism of action, improved efficacies and safety profiles |
Collaboration |
Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) (Japan) Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (Switzerland)
|
Disease |
Malaria |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Lead Optimization |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 680,010,000 (USD 4.3 million) |
Status |
Continued project |
Summary |
[Project objective] The objective of this proposal is to investigate the new Gwt1p-inhibitor and find a back-up candidate with improved activity and safety profile. To deliver this goal, the project team will focus on the following specific objectives: (1) Two chemical series will be chemically optimized and a frontrunner compound will be selected from each series, as precandidates. (2) Two precandidates will be evaluated in multiple assays and the most favorable compound will be selected as a Late Lead. (3) The synthetic route of Late Lead will be optimized and GLP manufacturing will be conducted. (4) Non-rodent DRF study will be conducted and candidate selection will be scheduled following a successful outcome to this study. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: G2023-219
Project Title |
Manufacture of clinical trial material for a monoclonal antibody to prevent P. falciparum malaria |
Collaboration |
Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) (USA) GlaxoSmithKline Investigacion y Desarrollo, S.L. (Spain) Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) (Japan) Ehime University (Japan)
|
Disease |
Malaria |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Pre-clinical |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 585,190,112 (USD 3.7 million) |
Status |
Continued project |
Summary |
[Project objective] The objective of this project is to complete GMP drug substance and GMP drug product manufacturing to support the future Investigational New Drug Application (IND) submission to the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) for a proof-of-concept clinical trial that includes controlled human malaria infection. Our long-term goal is to secure a WHO recommendation for a mAb that prevents P. falciparum malaria in young children living in areas of seasonal transmission in sub-Saharan Africa. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: S2024-111
Project Title |
Hit Validation of novel Daiichi Sankyo compounds with antimalarial activity |
Collaboration |
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (Switzerland) Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)
|
Disease |
Malaria |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Screening |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 4,000,000 (USD 25,292.44) |
Status |
Continued project |
Summary |
[Project objective] The objective of the Hit Validation project is the synthesis and testing of a small array of compounds designed to investigate the minimum pharmacophore, key structural features required for activity and scope to address issues identified through the profiling of the hits identified from the earlier HTS campaign (S2020-113). If a compelling data package is obtained and the series clear potential for further development towards an Early Lead, a GHIT HTLP proposal will be submitted. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: S2024-123
Project Title |
Exploration of Novel Antiviral Compounds for the Development of Therapeutics Against Flavivirus Infections |
Collaboration |
Eisai Co., Ltd. (Eisai) (Japan) Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) (Switzerland)
|
Disease |
Dengue and Zika |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Screening |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 12,653,193 (USD 80,007.54) |
Status |
New |
Summary |
[Project objective] The project team aims to identify hit compounds that will serve as the starting point for new drug development by exploring novel compounds that exhibit antiviral activity against flaviviruses such as dengue virus and Zika virus. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: S2024-113
Project Title |
Screening Project between RIKEN and MMV |
Collaboration |
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (Switzerland) RIKEN (Japan)
|
Disease |
Lassa Fever |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Screening |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 20,064,000 (USD 126,866.90) |
Status |
New |
Summary |
[Project objective] The project aims to use a cell-based, infection-free platform to identify potential treatments against LASV using the RIKEN NPDepo library. Additionally, the project seeks to study the effectiveness of selected confirmed treatments against lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Tacaribe virus (TCRV), and Junin virus (JUNV) in order to identify potential broad-spectrum antiviral compounds. This collaboration leverages the screening capabilities and drug development expertise of Japan's largest comprehensive institution, PDP, and academic investigators to achieve its goals. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
ID: S2024-114
Project Title |
Screening Project between RIKEN and MMV |
Collaboration |
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (Switzerland) RIKEN (Japan)
|
Disease |
Rift Valley fever |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Screening |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 23,712,000 (USD 149,933.61) |
Status |
New |
Summary |
[Project objective] The project aims to use a live virus platform to identify potential compounds active against the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) using the RIKEN NPDepo library. Furthermore, the project intends to investigate the activity of selected compounds against the Punta Toro virus and La Crosse virus in order to identify potential broad-spectrum anti-bunyavirus compounds. This collaboration leverages the screening capabilities and drug development expertise of Japan's largest comprehensive research institution, PDP, and academic investigators to achieve its goals. [Project design] About 100 compounds (assuming a 0.5% hit rate) will be selected from the screening for further confirmation studies. These studies will involve testing the compounds at three different doses in cultured cells infected with RVFV, similar to the initial screen, and assessing cytotoxicity. From the confirmed compounds, RIKEN and MMV will prioritize up to 5 hits for further evaluation. To assess the potential for broad-spectrum anti-bunyaviral activity, the confirmed compounds will be tested against Punta Toro virus and the more distantly related La Crosse virus. The hit series meeting MMV and GHIT criteria for further development (hits with confirmed EC50 < 5 μM against live viruses and a selectivity index (SI = CC50/EC50) of ≥10, with progressable chemotypes) will form the basis of a future GHIT HTLP application. |
Project Detail |
|
ID: S2024-115
Project Title |
Screening Project between RIKEN and MMV |
Collaboration |
Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) (Switzerland) RIKEN (Japan)
|
Disease |
Ebola and Marburg |
Intervention |
Drug |
Stage |
Screening |
Awarded Amount |
JPY 22,800,000 (USD 144,166.93) |
Status |
New |
Summary |
[Project objective] The project aims to use a multi-filovirus "rainbow" system that can simultaneously test for EBOV, MARV, and SUDV using a single cell line to identify potential treatments against filoviruses using the RIKEN NPDepo library. Additionally, the project seeks to study the effectiveness of selected confirmed hits against other filoviruses (Tai Forest, Reston, Bundibogyo, Lloviu) in order to identify potential broad-spectrum antiviral compounds. This collaboration leverages the screening capabilities and drug development expertise of Japan's largest comprehensive institution, PDP, and academic investigators to achieve its goals. [Project design] |
Project Detail |
|
*All amounts are listed at an exchange rate of USD1 = JPY158.15, the approximate exchange rate on December 30, 2024.
Appendix 2. Investment Overview (as of January 30, 2025)
Investments to date
Total investments: 35.8 billion yen (USD 226 million1)
Total invested projects: 133 (37 active projects and 96 completed projects)
To learn more about the GHIT Fund's investments, please visit
Investment Overview:
Portfolio:
Advancing Portfolio:
Clinical Candidates:
For more information, contact:
Katy Lenard at +1-202-494-2584 or [email protected]
Mina Ohata at +81-36441-2032 or [email protected]
SOURCE Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)
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