Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and AGC Partner to Support Drug Discovery Startups

• Mitsubishi UFJ Capital and AGC Inc. have signed an agreement for the technical evaluation of drug manufacturing in support of drug discovery startups.

• AGC will leverage its CDMO expertise to analyse and advise on chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) aspects of drug production.

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd. and AGC Inc. have signed a mandate agreement to support drug discovery startups through technical evaluations of drug manufacturing. The agreement aligns with Mitsubishi UFJ Capital’s investment activities in the life sciences sector and aims to enhance manufacturing feasibility assessments for early-stage drug developers.

As drug development becomes more complex due to the diversification of modalities, industry collaboration is essential for building a robust drug discovery ecosystem. Under this agreement, AGC will utilise its CDMO expertise to assess potential challenges in process development and manufacturing for startups, providing guidance from a chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) perspective. AGC’s global CDMO business spans Japan, the U.S., and Europe, covering small molecule pharmaceuticals, therapeutic proteins, mRNA, plasmid DNA, gene and cell therapy, and exosomes.

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, a major investor in life sciences, manages funds dedicated to drug discovery and has extensive experience working with pharmaceutical companies and academia. The firm will use its expertise to evaluate the feasibility and implementation of manufacturing plans, aiming to reduce production risks and improve efficiency for startups.

By leveraging AGC’s manufacturing knowledge and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital’s investment capabilities, the partnership seeks to accelerate drug development and increase the likelihood of success for early-stage biotech companies.