BRIEF—Eisai to focus dementia discovery on new Cambridge, Mass, site

Japanese pharma major Eisai has decided to close its Andover, Massachusetts site and establish the Eisai Center for Genetics Guided Dementia Discovery (G2D2), a new exploratory research facility focused on immuno-dementia based on human genetics, aimed at innovative drug discovery in the field of dementia, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the USA.

Eisai plans to commit over $100 million as an initial investment to establish the new discovery center over the first three years, and anticipates substantially increasing funding as its pipeline develops.

Using genetic information as a starting point, G2D2 is aiming to control neural inflammation which is a primary cause of dementia along with amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, and bring about further progress in defeating dementia. G2D2 is scheduled to commence operation in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, and the head of the new research facility will be Nadeem Sarwar, the current president of Andover innovative Medicines (AiM) Institute. Once G2D2 commences operation, the current AiM Institute will be closed down.

By further enhancing drug discovery activities for dementia treatments through a comprehensive approach with the operation of G2D2, Eisai is striving to discover innovative medicines as soon as possible to further contribute to fulfilling unmet medical needs and increasing the benefits for patients and their families.