Partners
Parent Company:
Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd., is located in Tokyo, Japan. It focuses on kidney diseases, cancers (including hematopoietic diseases), and immune-system/allergy-related diseases and has recently been focused on the areas of cell therapy and fully human antibodies. For more information, please visit Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd.
Kirin Holdings: In July 2007, Kirin introduced a holding company structure. The Group’s alcohol, soft drink, pharmaceutical and other businesses where placed under the umbrella of a Group holding company. Kirin also separated the domestic alcohol and pharmaceutical businesses from the parent company and created a shared services company handling back office operations. The holding company structure now facilitates the adoption of an efficient and responsive management approach.
Research Partners:
La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology (LIAI) is a nonprofit medical research center dedicated to increasing knowledge and improving human health through cutting-edge immunology research. The Institute's researchers seek to expand understanding of how the immune system works and to discover the causes of a broad array of immune system disorders -- from rheumatoid arthritis to infectious diseases to cancer. The knowledge gained through their research can, in turn, lead to the prevention, treatment and cure of a wide range of human diseases.
As the sole corporate sponsor of the LIAI, Kirin established the Kirin Pharma USA Research Division in 1998 to serve as a research bridge between LIAI and Kirin, conducting proof-of-concept studies on research projects conceived with the input of LIAI's scientists. LIAI and Kirin Pharma USA have collaborated on a number of research projects over the years. The anti-influenza M2 project, which is showing promise against numerous flu strains, including the H5N1 avian flu, is a result of Kirin Pharma USA's and LIAI's collaborative effort.
Argos Therapeutics, Inc. a privately held company headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, and with additional operations in Erlangen, Germany is dedicated to becoming a market leader in the field of immunotherapy. Utilizing proprietary technology and proven therapeutic methods and expertise in dendritic cell biology, Argos is developing the next generation of therapies in the areas of oncology, infectious diseases, autoimmune disorders and transplantation. Argos' initial total tumor RNA-loaded dendritic cell vaccine is currently in a corporate Phase I/II clinical trial for patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.
Hematech, Inc. was founded in 1998 and has its corporate headquarters in Westport, CT. In 1999, Hematech and the Pharmaceutical Division of the Kirin Brewery Company began a research collaboration to develop a bovine system for production of human polyclonal antibodies. The collaboration brought together Kirin's human artificial chromosome (HAC) and gene targeting technologies and Hematech's bovine cloning technology. In 2002,Hematech and Kirin consolidated their transgenic bovine research programs in facilities in Sioux Falls, SD. Currently, Hematech occupies approximately 13,000 sq ft of laboratory space in the Sioux Falls Technology Park. In 2003, Hematech formed a joint venture with Transova Genetics. Transova is one of the worlds largest bovine embryo transfer companies and has extensive experience in managing cloned and genetically modified cattle. The Hematech/Transova Joint Venture was formed to manage all of Hematech's animal needs, including animal work at Hematech's Research and Development Center in Sioux Center, IA. Kirin acquired Hematech as of July 25, 2005, and Hematech is now a subsidiary of Kirin. Kirin has developed the novel TransChromo method which allows Hematech to produce unlimited quantities of uniform human antibodies. Hematech continues to collaborate with Kirin/Kirin Pharma USA on research.
