Seeking Clinically Relevant Models of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Daiichi Sankyo, a global pharmaceutical company, is seeking novel animal and in vitro models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) that better recapitulate chronic, progressive human disease than the standard bleomycin-induced model, to support translational research and compound testing. 

Approaches of Interest:

• Models capturing chronic progressive fibrosis (including Usual Interstitial Pneumonia pathology), restrictive lung dysfunction, myofibroblast activation, AT2 cell dysfunction, and fibrosis-associated epigenetic reprogramming are of high interest 
• Age-related and senescence-driven models are also of interest, and acute exacerbation models are prioritized as a standalone focus rather than a feature of a broader chronic model 
• High translational potential is preferred, with patient-derived and lung tissue or biopsy samples prioritized above iPSC-derived systems and primary cells 
• Humanized models, such as immunodeficient mice reconstituted with human cells, and ex vivo systems such as precision-cut lung slices and lung-on-chip devices, are also of interest 
• Fibrosis models relevant to MASH and CKD are of interest and entirely novel quantitative pathological assessment approaches, such as imaging-based or molecular readouts, are sought 

Out of Scope:

• Simple culture models using cells derived from healthy individuals or patients 
• In vivo models using acute inflammatory agents, such as bleomycin 
• Conventional assessment methods such as hydroxyproline measurement and histological staining 
• Research without supporting data 
• Proposals where future assessment of Daiichi Sankyo’s own compounds could not be commissioned 

Stages of Development

• Basic and preclinical research models are of interest, though established models evaluated against positive controls and capable of immediate compound evaluation are highly desirable
• Submissions must include model characteristics, development protocol, in vivo/in vitro data, and readouts

Submission Information and Opportunity for Collaboration

Daiichi Sankyo invites applications from both academic institutions and industry organizations and welcomes proposals based on both existing technologies or methods and novel approaches. Applicants should complete the submission form which should contain a brief, non‑confidential overview of your proposal, demonstrating how the RFP requirements are satisfied by your approach. To submit your proposal, please visit our website, register, and submit your application form under the appropriate Connect campaign. Our client is open to a range of collaboration opportunities, with the most appropriate outcome being decided on a case-by-case basis. Example outcomes include licensing assets, project/PhD funding, and research collaborations. Please refer to the submission form for Essential Information on IP.