December 11, 2018
HitGen Ltd
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
HitGen and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Enter DNA-Encoded Library Based
Innovative Drug Discovery Research Collaboration
Chengdu, China, December 11, 2018, HitGen Ltd announced that the company hasentered into a drug discovery research collaboration with Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma
Corporation (President and CEO: Masayuki Mitsuka; Headquarters: Osaka; “MTPC”) toidentify novel small molecule leads for targets of interest. According to the agreement,
HitGen will apply its advanced technology platform, based on DNA-encoded library design,synthesis, and screening system, to discover novel lead compounds. The collaboration willuse HitGen’s libraries containing more than 300 billion individually DNA-encodedcompounds. The DNA encoding of molecules enables screening and analysis of vastchemical space, supporting MTPC’s aim to increase success rates for the generation oftarget leads for new drugs and to drastically shorten screening timelines for expanding
MTPC’s pipeline. Under the terms of the agreement, HitGen will receive technology accessand research support payments, and be eligible for milestone payments from MTPC.
Financial details were not disclosed.
"We really expect that the collaboration with HitGen will be able to accelerate our drug
discovery researches leading to creation of innovative pharmaceuticals. We are engaged
in research and development of innovative pharmaceuticals that are valuable to patients,
particularly in the fields of central nervous system diseases, autoimmune diseases
including rare diseases, and vaccine." said Dr. Hiroaki Ueno, Managing Executive Officerand Head of Sohyaku Innovative Research Division at MTPC.
“We are very pleased to enter into this collaboration with MTPC, a leading pharmaceuticalcompany with over 300-year history in the industry. This collaboration further underscores
the growing recognition and impact of DNA-encoded libraries for innovative drug discovery
research. We will work closely with MTPC scientists to generate novel leads for theirinnovative research programs to address unmet medical needs.” said Dr. Jin Li, Chairman
and CEO of HitGen.
About HitGen Ltd
HitGen is a rapidly growing biotech company with headquarters and custom-built researchfacilities based in Chengdu, China, with a subsidiary in USA. HitGen has established anindustry-leading platform for early-stage drug discovery research centred on DNA encodedchemical libraries (DELs). HitGen’s DELs include encoded syntheses for more than 300
billion novel, diverse, drug-like small molecule and macrocycle compounds. These
compounds are members of DELs synthesised from many hundreds of distinct chemicalscaffolds, designed and assembled with tractable chemistry based on proven results for
identifying drug-like leads against biological targets from known and novel classes. HitGen

is working with multiple pharmaceutical and biotech companies, foundations and research
institutes to discover and develop the novel therapeutics of the future.
For more information, please visit www.hitgen.com or contact
Dr. Jin Li, Chairman & CEO, HitGen Ltd. Tel: +86 28 85197385 (8001)
Dr. Jian Li, Vice President, Business Development, HitGen Ltd. Tel: +86 28 85197385(8800)
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, which was founded in 1678, has its headquarters
in Doshomachi, Osaka, which is the birthplace of Japan’s Pharmaceutical Industry. Withbusiness centered on ethical pharmaceuticals, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma is a wellestablished company and has the longest history of any listed company in Japan. In
accordance with the corporate philosophy of “contributing healthier lives of people aroundthe world through the creation of pharmaceuticals, “the Company formulated the key
concept of Open Up the Future under the Medium-Term Management Plan in 2016-2020.
Through the discovery of drugs that address unmet medical needs, centered on its priority
disease area – autoimmune disease, diabetes and kidney diseases, central nervous
system diseases, and vaccine - Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma will strive to contribute to thehealth of patients around the world.
For more information, please visit https://www.MT-Pharma.co.jp/
Media contacts: TEL: +81-6-6205-5119
Investor contacts: TEL: +81 6 6205 5110