November 2, 2022
Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners Inc.
Knowledge Palette, Inc.
Axcelead DDP and Knowledge PaletteEnter into a Collaborative Research Contract on Gene Expression Analysis
Concerning Drug-Resistant Cancer
Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners Inc. (headquarters: Fujisawa, Kanagawa; CEO: YoshinoriIkeura) and Knowledge Palette, Inc. (headquarters: Kawasaki, Kanagawa; Co-Founders andRepresentative Directors: Hiroki Danno and Masakazu Fukuda) have entered into acollaborative research contract on gene expression analysis for drug-resistant cancer.
In this collaborative research project, the companies will collaborate to discover specific cell
populations and gene clusters involved in the drug resistance in lung cancer, and to identify
related biomarkers. Knowledge Palette will comprehensively profile gene expression in frozen
clinical specimens obtained from biobanks using the company’s core single-cell gene
expression analysis technology (Quartz-Seq2). Based on the results of these analyses,
Axcelead DDP will identify and validate the candidates of new drug targets and biomarkers forthe drug-resistant cancer utilizing its wealth of knowledge and expertise in drug discovery.
This research collaboration is expected to unveil new target proteins and biomarkers that haveeluded conventional analytical techniques and will contribute to elucidate the mechanisms ofdrug-resistance in cancers, discover new drug targets, and find biomarkers that will enhance
the success rate of clinical studies.
Yoshinori Ikeura, President and CEO of Axcelead DDP, said, “If we can identify new target
proteins and biomarkers in drug-resistant cancer through this research collaboration withKnowledge Palette and their outstanding genetic analysis technology, we will be able tosupport research and development initiatives to develop new drugs and improve the successrate of clinical studies. Axcelead DDP is committed to being the most trusted companion to all
who endeavor to bring highly innovative medicine to the world.”

Hiroki Danno, Representative Director and CEO of Knowledge Palette, said, “The wide varietyof cells present in samples collected from living tissues makes it difficult to collect sufficiently
accurate drug discovery data with conventional analytical technologies. In this researchcollaboration, we will utilize our single-cell analysis technology, which produces highlyaccurate data regardless of cell type, and Axcelead DDP’s wide range of drug discovery
expertise to create new drug discovery approaches for diseases yet to be overcome.”

About Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners, Inc.:
Launched in July 2017, Axcelead is Japan’s first integrated drug discovery solutions provider,having taken over the drug discovery capabilities of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. The
company provides integrated services, from the discovery of drug targets to the optimization ofsmall- and medium-molecule drug candidates, in which the company has particular expertise.
Axcelead also helps bridge the gap to clinical development. For more information, please visit
https://www.axcelead.com/en/
About Knowledge Palette, Inc.:
Knowledge Palette is a Japanese biotechnology company engaged in phenotypic drug discovery,
biomarker identification, and the improvement of regenerative medicine manufacturing using asingle-cell transcriptome analysis technology (Quartz-Seq2) that was ranked No. 1 for bothaccuracy scores and overall scores in an international benchmark project in 2020. Knowledge
Palette collaborates with pharmaceutical companies and research institutes to accelerate drug
discovery and optimize cell culturing for regenerative medicine.
E-mail: info@knowledge-palette.com
URL: https://www.knowledge-palette.com/en/