Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter Daiichi Sankyo) announced on July 29 that it will expand its "Take a New challenge for Drug diScovery (TaNeDS) Global Program,"a collaborative drug discovery program with universities and research institutes based in Japan, to Germany, Switzerland and Austria. As part of the program, Daiichi Sankyo is seeking to work with innovative partners for research that could result in novel drug discovery candidates and novel new drugs.

The TaNeDS program is open to researchers of any nationality employed by universities, research institutes and start-up companies in Germany, Switzerland and Austria who can conduct research in those countries with projects that align with Daiichi Sankyo's research areas of interest. These areas include novel biologic agents (antibody drugs, etc.) for treatment of cancer, small-molecule cancer therapeutics, novel drug treatments for diabetes and complications of diabetes, novel mechanisms for genetic disorders, novel target molecules and delivery systems for nucleic acid treatments, and technology for protein X-ray crystallography.

Daiichi Sankyo and U3 Pharma GmbH (headquartered in Munich, Germany; hereafter U3 Pharma), a wholly owned subsidiary of Daiichi Sankyo, will select institutions that match their research needs and demonstrate originality, potential and promise as drug discovery candidates.

The TaNeDS collaborative drug discovery project was launched in Japan in 2011 to help discover new lines of research through open innovation. Many researchers in Japan have applied to the program and research on selected themes is currently being conducted.

About the TaNeDS Global Program

(1) Countries where research will be conducted:

Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

(2) Overview of research programs

Daiichi Sankyo seeks innovative technological research collaborators for novel drug discovery and testing projects that could result in novel drug discovery candidates and novel new drugs.

(3) Research programs of interest

1. Novel cancer therapy with biologics (antibody drugs, etc.) .

2. Novel small-molecule cancer therapeutics.

3. Novel drug treatments for diabetes and complications of diabetes.

4. Novel mechanisms for genetic disorders.

5. Novel target molecules and delivery systems for nucleic acid treatments.

6. Technology for protein X-ray crystallography.

For more details, please visit the TaNeDS Global Program page at: http://www.daiichisankyo.com/rd/taneds/index.html

(4) Budget and period of research

Up to 150,000 euros per year for collaborative research projects lasting up to two years.

(5) Eligibility

Researchers of any nationality employed by universities, research institutes and start-up companies in Germany, Switzerland and Austria who can conduct research in those countries with projects that match Daiichi Sankyo's desired research themes.

(6) Selection process

Daiichi Sankyo and U3 Pharma researchers will select research teams that match their research needs and demonstrate originality, potential and promise as drug discovery candidates.

(7) Schedule

Application period: October 7 to November 1, 2013.

First shortlist selection period: Early November to mid-December 2013.

Second shortlist selection period: Mid-December 2013 to early February 2014.

Start of collaborative research programs: From mid-April 2014 as teams are selected.

About Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd.

Listed: Code No.: 4568, First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange

President and CEO: Joji Nakayama

Daiichi Sankyo Group is dedicated to the creation and supply of innovative pharmaceutical products to address the diversified, unmet medical needs of patients in both mature and emerging markets. While maintaining its portfolio of marketed pharmaceuticals for hypertension, hyperlipidemia and bacterial infections, the Group is engaged in the development of treatments for thrombotic disorders and focused on the discovery of novel oncology and cardiovascular-metabolic therapies. Furthermore, the Daiichi Sankyo Group has created a "Hybrid Business Model," which will respond to market and customer diversity and optimise growth opportunities across the value chain. For more information, please visit: www.daiichisankyo.com.