Despite all the advances the oncology community has seen since 1987 when Eisai came to America, there are still too many people living with cancer, and too many unmet needs remain. That’s why we let the science drive us to new approaches that accelerate progress in oncology, even if it means pursuing breakthroughs in challenging areas unexplored by other companies. Behind that work is our grounding philosophy rooted in empathy, a concept we call human health care (hhc). Our commitment to hhc means that we always prioritize patients and their families above all else. We do what it takes to find the potential in the seemingly impossible, because transformative cancer solutions simply can’t wait.
ONCOLOGY RESEARCH AT EISAI
WE TAKE ON OUR WORK WITH RESILIENCE, CONVICTION AND INTENTION.
-
RESILIENCE
Our quest to find a novel solution
We searched far and wide to find a breakthrough therapy with the potential to help some cancer patients live longer. Our scientists discovered an organic compound found in the ocean and perfected a unique chemical reaction to synthesize it.
WATCH OUR VIDEO TO LEARN HOW A SEA SPONGE
FOUND OFF THE COAST OF JAPAN LED TO THE
CREATION OF A CANCER TREATMENT.A video thumbnail showing a graphic of a partially submersed view of the ocean, with the Eisai logo floating on the surface. Below the surface are coral reefs and fish. Click here for Prescribing Information -
CONVICTION
Our relentless pursuit to develop a targeted therapy
When we set out to explore angiogenesis and potential therapeutic applications in 1991, we envisioned the promise of targeted anticancer therapies and were driven by the aim to maximize for patients the benefits that the scientific community hoped they would provide. As our research progressed, we concentrated on diseases with poor prognoses and limited treatment options. Rather than rushing to be first to market, we stayed true to our vision and prioritized how the compound would bind to certain targets implicated in the pathogenesis of the cancer, including its potential to minimize mechanisms of escape and resistance. This led us to create a targeted anticancer agent.
-
INTENTION
Achieving more for patients through collaboration
We’ve made it our mission to get transformative medicines to those who need them the most, and we forge the most effective collaborations to help expedite our mission.
TKI + IO Combination
With the hope of reaching more patients in need, we are investigating our targeted agent (a multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor) in combination with an immuno-oncology therapeutic, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy. To date, numerous trials have been initiated under our LEAP clinical program, which is evaluating the combination across multiple tumor types.
ADC Therapies
Our respective collaborative research efforts with Bristol Myers Squibb and Bliss Biopharmaceuticals are based on the exploration of a next-generation class of targeted therapies, called antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), consisting of targeted molecular antibodies linked to anti-cancer drugs. At Eisai, we're collaborating with companies that have specific expertise to help amplify our efforts in developing oncology drugs that utilize our unique ADC technology, bispecifics and other emerging biologics, with the goal of delivering better therapeutic results with fewer side effects.
OUR SCIENCE-DRIVEN APPROACH
EXPLORING THE DEPTHS OF HUMAN BIOLOGY TO FIND THE NEXT GAME CHANGER AND BRING US CLOSER TO A WORLD WITHOUT CANCER
We’ve reimagined the way we approach research and development to maximize our strengths while promoting greater collaboration and diverse thinking. This style of working allows us to be nimble, make critical decisions more quickly, and increase efficiencies in our day-to-day work. Our scientists collaborate across functions while following a biology-first approach—and broadening our horizons allows us to consider the science behind more than just oncology. We call this new organization, and the approach that it employs, Deep Human Biology Learning (DHBL). Designed to help guide us toward novel solutions, DHBL is a collaborative effort among all Eisai scientists to harness their diverse experience in the search for novel solutions.
At Eisai’s Epochal Precision Anti-Cancer Therapeutics (EPAT) research center, the DHBL approach comes to life as a search for common root causes for early-stage cancers. The researchers at EPAT are focused on:
Identifying new ways to overcome drug resistance in cancer therapy
-
Exploring molecular techniques to selectively target and inhibit/degrade the proteins cancers need to survive
-
Developing antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which can be designed to deliver specific anticancer molecules directly to tumor cells and/or tumor microenvironment (TME)
EXPLORE EPAT'S PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGIES:
Latest News
Read the latest on how we’re helping people living with cancer.
JOIN OUR TEAM
LOOKING FOR A TEAM ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU’LL BE
CHALLENGED AND INSPIRED TO BREAKTHROUGH?
Join us in our commitment to human
health care—our mission to make a
difference in the lives of patients and
people worldwide
