September 27, 2023

The Global Health Innovative Technology Fund provides grant for joint research into
anti-malarial drugs with novel mechanisms of action conducted by Mitsubishi TanabePharma and a malaria research institution
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Osaka; Representative
Director: Akihiro Tsujimura; hereinafter, “MTPC”), a member of the Mitsubishi ChemicalGroup, has been conducting joint research with Medicines for Malaria Venture (“MMV”), a
research institution focused on the treatment of malaria. Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma hasannounced that a grant of ¥334 million will be provided by the Global Health Innovative
Technology Fund (“GHIT Fund”) for programs to create preclinical candidates for anti-malarialdrugs with novel mechanisms of action.
The aim of this project is to create preclinical candidates of anti-malarial drugs that can beadministered as a single dose and are effective in preventing P. falciparum malaria and P.
vivax malaria or their recurrence in a 2-year program. In 2015, through the GHIT Fund, MTPC
provided its pharmaceutical compound library (51,200 compounds) to MMV, and joint
research was commenced. Since 2019, we have been optimizing 2 lead compounds as new
anti-malarial drug candidates. The preclinical candidates we are aiming to create are derived
from the results. In addition, for the evaluation of Plasmodium vivax malaria, the University ofGeorgia (“UGA”) has joined as a new partner. And we will work on it as joint research between
MMV, UGA, and MTPC.
Along with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, malaria is one of the world’s big three infectious
diseases. The eradication of malaria is the target of Goal 3 of the Sustainable DevelopmentGoals: "Good health and well-being." In addition, MTPC has identified “Access to healthcare”
as one of the important material issues that it needs to address. We believe that a series of
initiatives targeting malaria through the GHIT Fund will contribute to achieving the SDGs andincreasing access to medicines in developing countries.
MTPC contributes to the realization of a sustainable society through the creation ofpharmaceuticals that address unmet medical needs and will provide hopeful options for all
people facing illness.

Contact:
Mitsubishi Chemical Group Corporation
Corporate Communications Division
Osaka Corporate Communications Department+81-6-6205-5119

1/2

＜Reference＞■the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund)The GHIT Fund is a Japan-based international public-private partnership fund (PPP) that wasformed between the Government of Japan, multiple pharmaceutical companies, the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation, Wellcome, and the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). The GHIT Fund invests and manages an R&D portfolio of development partnerships
aimed at addressing neglected diseases, such as malaria, tuberculosis, and neglected tropicaldiseases, which afflict the world’s vulnerable and underserved populations. In collaboration
with global partners, the GHIT Fund mobilizes Japanese industry, academia, and research
institutes to create new drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics for malaria, tuberculosis, andneglected tropical diseases.
https://www.ghitfund.org/en■Malaria
Malaria is caused by a parasite from the genus Plasmodium, which caused approximately
627,000 deaths in 2020.In humans, five species of Plasmodium are known to cause thedisease. Of particular relevance are P. falciparum, which is the most lethal and accounts for
93% of cases in sub-Saharan Africa and P. vivax which is prevalent in Southeast Asia and theAmericas and causes post-treatment disease relapse due to a latent liver form of the parasite.
Current antimalarial control is highly dependent on artemisinin combination therapies (ACTs),and it is concerning that decreased parasite sensitivity has emerged to all currently-used
ACTs, leading to significant failure rates in parts of Southeast Asia where partner drug
resistance is evident. If resistance becomes widespread in Africa (where most deaths occur),a major health crisis is feared.

2/2