Japan PBSS and MEDISO Co-host the 1st Drug Discovery Ecosystem Series: Partnering of Pharma and Biotech

The Japan Pharmaceutical & BioScience Society (Japan PBSS) co-hosted the first event in its "Drug Discovery Ecosystem Series: Partnering of Pharma and Biotech" on Saturday, May 16, 2026, in collaboration with MEDISO (Medical Venture Total Support Office), a project commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

This event was the third in-person gathering for Japan PBSS and marked the launch of a series specifically focused on the drug discovery ecosystem.

The day's sessions centered on partnering between pharmaceutical companies and biotechs, exploring topics such as the workflow of partnership reviews in big pharma, potential issues before and after deal closure, the ideal state of collaboration for Japanese biotechs, and the support functions that facilitate such partnerships.

With over 90 attendees on-site and more than 70 online, the event brought together a diverse group of participants from pharmaceutical companies, biotech startups, academia, and supporting institutions.

[Program Highlights]

Multifaceted Perspectives on Pharma-Biotech Partnering

At the start of the event, Narimitsu Uemura and Masakazu Konno from Japan PBSS introduced the society's mission and the event's theme. Subsequently, presentations were delivered on the workflow of partnership reviews within pharmaceutical companies from both development and research perspectives.

Mr. Miki Nakamori from Astellas Pharma Inc. presented on "Partnering Workflow in Pharma - Development Stage (Post-Compound Selection)," while Ms. Tomoko Maeda from Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Inc. discussed "Partnering Workflow in Pharma - Research Stage (Pre-Compound Selection)." These sessions highlighted how evaluation criteria and decision-making points differ between the research and development phases, offering biotechs a clear understanding of the pharmaceutical side's perspective.

Legal Insights: Points to Consider Before and After a Deal

Mr. Shinichiro Nakano from Mori Hamada & Matsumoto / Japan PBSS gave a talk titled "Tips: Trouble Cases Before and After Deal Closure." He emphasized that partnering in drug discovery does not end with contract signing; rather, building a relationship geared toward long-term R&D and business goals is crucial. He shared legal perspectives on common pitfalls and considerations during the deal-making process.

Biotech Partnering Strategies Based on Business Models

In the latter half, discussions shifted to the biotech perspective. Mr. Yen-Ting Chen from PeptiDream Inc. spoke on "Partnering for Japanese Biotechs - Platform Edition," and Mr. Kikuo Yasui from Heartseed Inc. addressed the "Pipeline Edition."

The sessions clarified that platform-based companies leveraging technical foundations and pipeline-based companies focused on specific development products face different challenges and strategic priorities when partnering with pharma.

Panel Discussion: Secrets of Successful Partnering

Moderated by Yoshinori Ikeura of Axcelead Inc. / Japan PBSS, the panel discussion explored the theme "What are the secrets for Japanese biotechs to partner with pharmaceutical companies?" Panelists included Issei Tsukamoto (Astellas Pharma), Tomoko Maeda (Boehringer Ingelheim), Yen-Ting Chen (PeptiDream), and Kikuo Yasui (Heartseed).