Kanagawa, Japan, 1, Sep 2021 – FIMECS, Inc. (“FIMECS”) a private biotechnology company creating a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation, today announced the organization of Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) to support development of the company’s platform and advancement of its R&D programs which are small molecule-based degrader therapeutics to the clinic. The board is comprised of three world-class scientists.
“I’m very excited to organize the SAB comprised of world-class scientists, including experts in protein degradation evaluation, organic chemistry, human genetics, proteomics, biophysics, and chemical biology research.” said Kanae Gamo, Ph.D., Co-Founder, CSO of FIMECS “We will accelerate further development of proprietary targeted protein degradation drug discovery platform “RaPPIDS™” in collaboration with SAB and will deliver innovative therapeutics of currently undruggable targets”
SAB members include:
Masato T. Kanemaki Professor at National Institute of Genetics.
Dr. Kanemaki is an expert in human genetics. He has developed auxin-inducible degron (AID) technology, by which the expression of a protein of interest can be rapidly controlled by the addition of a plant hormone, auxin. The AID is expanded to not only genetics but also targeted protein degradation research areas. After receiving his Ph.D. at Chiba University in 2001, he started academic career at Cancer Research UK Paterson Institute for Cancer Research (Manchester, UK). During 2006-2010, he worked at Osaka University (Osaka, Japan) as an assistant professor, then he moved National Institute Genetics (Shizuoka, Japan) as an associate professor and appointed professor in 2016.
Kouhei Tsumoto Professor at The University of Tokyo.
Dr. Tsumoto is an expert in a protein engineering and studies interactions between biomolecules. He is very familiar with protein-protein interaction, proteomics, biophysics assays such as isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), surface plasmon resonance (SPR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential scanning fluorescence (DSF), and microscale thermophoresis (MST), spectroscopic analysis including circular dichroism (CD), as well as mass spectrometry and crystal structure analysis.
After receiving his Ph.D. at the University of Tokyo in 1995, he started his academic career at Tohoku University. In 2005, he appointed associate professor at The University of Tokyo, then he is playing multiple roles of a professor in Medical Proteomics Laboratory, the Institute of Medical Science (2010~), Institute of Industrial Science (2012~), and Faculty of Engineering (2013~). He awarded FujiSankei Business i Special Prize, Grand Prize for Frontier Technology: Pave a New Way for Creativity in 2020, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Prize (2012), and others.
Tohru Fukuyama Professor Emeritus at The University of Tokyo.
Dr. Fukuyama is an expert in organic chemistry in particular total synthesis of natural products. He succeeded the synthesis of more than 25 natural products, including tetrodotoxin, mitomycin C, Leinamycin, Vinblastine and Ecteinascidins which are complex structural alkaroides. After receiving his Ph.D. at Harvard University in 1997, he started his research career at Harvard University. During 1978-1995, he eagerly studied the chemistry as assistant professor, associate professor and professor at Rice University (TX, US). He came back to Japan in 1995 and took a post of professor at The University of Tokyo. After working 18 years there, he moved to Nagoya University in 2013 as a designated professor. He retired in 2018 and he appointed professor emeritus at The University of Tokyo. Now, he is giving professional advises to pharmaceutical companies as an independent consultant (TFOS Consulting). He awarded Medal with Purple Ribbon in 2009, The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan Award in 2006, ACS Award for Creative Work in Synthetic Organic Chemistry in 2004, and others.
About FIMECS, Inc.
FIMECS, Inc. is developing a new class of drugs based on targeted protein degradation for the currently ‘undruggable’ targets in immuno-oncology and oncology areas. The company became able
to discover drug candidates for inducing the degradation of disease-relevant targeted proteins by integrating proprietary E3 ligase binders and RaPPIDS™ platform. This drug discovery platform will help providing drugs to the patients all over the world through various internal and collaboration projects.
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Contact:
FIMECS, Inc.
26-1, Muraoka-Higashi 2-chome, Fujisawa, Kanagawa 251-0012, Japan
Tel: +81-466-96-0261
Email: info@fimecs.com