Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, Inc. Expands Partnership with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.

NEW YORK & OSAKA, Japan–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, The Rockefeller University and
Weill Cornell Medicine today announced that they will expand the focus
of the successful Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute,
Inc. (Tri-I TDI), a partnership established in 2013 to expedite
early-stage drug discovery of innovative new therapies. Under this
expansion, Tri-I TDI will extend its current relationship with its
industry partner, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. (TSE:4502) from
the realm of small molecule discovery into the new research area of
antibody drug discovery. All three institutions will benefit from Tri-I
TDI’s expansion.

“We are thrilled at the prospect of growing our strong Tri-I TDI
partnership, where we continue to tackle important health questions and
improve drug development efficiency. Through our current work, we’ve
established a streamlined process to apply our breakthrough research
into clinical application and look forward to adding antibody knowledge
into our expanding range of capabilities,” said Dr. Augustine Choi,
interim dean of Weill Cornell Medicine.

“TDI has already had an important impact by providing an opportunity for
our scientists, and those of our collaborating institutions, to develop
small molecules that might lead to new drugs,” said Dr. Marc
Tessier-Lavigne, president of The Rockefeller University. “With the
addition of its antibody program, TDI will go even further, jumpstarting
the development of an additional type of therapy for poorly treated
diseases.”

“What began as a novel partnership between academia and industry has now
become a powerful voice in medical research,” said Memorial Sloan
Kettering President and CEO Dr. Craig B. Thompson. “Our collaboration
has provided more efficient paths to translate laboratory discoveries
into bedside treatments that lead to improved patient care and well
being. This partnership is a great example of how collaboration and open
partnerships are the future of medical research.”

“As we look ahead to what’s next, beyond small molecule drug discovery,
this flagship collaboration will continue to push the boundaries of
what’s possible in medical research,” said Andrew Plump, Takeda’s chief
medical and scientific officer. “We at Takeda understand the value of,
and connection between, innovation and external collaboration. This is
why we are so pleased to continue our relationship with the Tri-I TDI
and help expand its mission to move toward novel research frontiers such
as antibody drug discovery.”

Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute

The independent nonprofit Tri-I TDI was launched in 2013, and has its
own scientific advisory board and board of directors. The Tri-I TDI is
located on the top floor of the new, state-of-the-art Belfer Research
Building at Weill Cornell Medicine, and the new antibody facilities are
housed in the Zuckerman Research Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering
Cancer Center. Tri-I TDI was established to bridge the gap between
groundbreaking early-stage academic research discoveries and the
development of new diagnostic or therapeutic agents. Tri-I TDI supports
translational research across the Tri-I community by leveraging the
expertise of all three academic institutions and its industry partner,
Takeda.

The organization’s initial and continuing goals are to foster discovery
and translational research, to provide high-quality educational
opportunities to all members of the Tri-I community, and to deepen
faculty involvement in drug discovery. In the context of its expanding
partnership with Takeda, Tri-I TDI will explore new areas where it can
provide value to patients. As innovation and technology take center
stage in the conversation around the future of healthcare, the new
antibody drug discovery initiative – which many consider a frontier in
the health industry – is a clear and inspiring direction in which to
take the institute.

As Tri-I TDI’s sole industry partner, Takeda contributes a team of
experienced chemists and pharmacologists, along with a wealth of
institutional knowledge and best practices gained from its position as
an established industry leader in the pharmaceutical sector.

Philanthropy is helping to drive discoveries at the Tri-I TDI. The three
institutions received an initial $15 million gift from Lewis and Ali
Sanders to launch the Tri-I TDI and, recently, a second $15 million gift
from the couple to grow its mission. The institute is also funded
through direct contributions from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer
Center, The Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medicine. An
important aspect of the institute continues to be the Sanders Innovation
and Education Initiative, which lends organizational infrastructure,
project management, director salary support, education for a new
generation of drug discovery scientists, and in-lab support of faculty
to drive the institute’s innovative mission.

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) is the world’s oldest and largest private
cancer center, home to more than 14,000 physicians, scientists, nurses,
and staff united by a relentless dedication to conquering cancer. As an
independent institution, MSK combines 130 years of research and clinical
leadership with the freedom to provide highly individualized,
exceptional care to each patient. And MSK’s always-evolving educational
programs continue to train new leaders in the field, both at MSK and
around the world. For more information, go to www.mskcc.org.

The Rockefeller University

The Rockefeller University is the world’s leading biomedical research
university and is dedicated to conducting innovative, high-quality
research to improve the understanding of life for the benefit of
humanity. Its 79 laboratories conduct research in neuroscience,
immunology, biochemistry, genomics and many other areas, and a community
of over 2,000 faculty, students, postdocs, technicians, clinicians and
administrative personnel work on a 14-acre Manhattan campus.
Rockefeller’s unique approach to science has led to some of the world’s
most revolutionary and transformative contributions to biology and
medicine. During Rockefeller’s 115-year history, 24 of our scientists
have won Nobel Prizes, 21 have won Albert Lasker Medical Research Awards
and 20 have garnered the National Medal of Science, the highest science
award given by the United States.

Weill Cornell Medicine

Weill Cornell Medicine is committed to excellence in patient care,
scientific discovery and the education of future physicians in New York
City and around the world. The doctors and scientists of Weill Cornell
Medicine — faculty from Weill Cornell Medical College, Weill Cornell
Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and Weill Cornell Physician
Organization — are engaged in world-class clinical care and cutting-edge
research that connect patients to the latest treatment innovations and
prevention strategies. Located in the heart of the Upper East Side’s
scientific corridor, Weill Cornell Medicine’s powerful network of
collaborators extends to its parent university Cornell University; to
Qatar, where an international campus offers a U.S. medical degree; and
to programs in Tanzania, Haiti, Brazil, Austria and Turkey. Weill
Cornell Medicine faculty provide comprehensive patient care at
NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center,
NewYork-Presbyterian/Lower Manhattan Hospital and
NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens. Weill Cornell Medicine is also affiliated
with Houston Methodist. For more information, visit weill.cornell.edu.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ltd. is a global, R&D-driven
pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a
brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing
medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on oncology,
gastroenterology and central nervous system therapeutic areas. It also
has specific development programs in specialty cardiovascular diseases,
as well as late-stage candidates for vaccines. Takeda conducts R&D both
internally and with partners to stay at the leading edge of innovation.
New innovative products, especially in oncology and gastroenterology, as
well as its presence in emerging markets, fuel the growth of Takeda.
More than 30,000 Takeda employees are committed to improving quality of
life for patients, working with our partners in health care in more than
70 countries. For more information, go to www.takeda.com/news

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