Novel Therapeutic Approaches Targeting Microglia Biology for Neuroinflammatory Disorders

Astellas Pharma Inc. are an international pharmaceutical company seeking novel research programs targeting microglia biology for neuroinflammatory and/or neuroimmunological disorders. Astellas are interested in microglia biology with a focus on disease/pathophysiology-specific microglia. This could include aspects of the following, as well as other microglia‑specific disease traits:

• Lysosomal function
• Pyroptosis
• Autoimmune/inflammatory diseases

Target Diseases

Diseases of particular interest are neuroinflammatory disorders which have a strong/clear relevance to a specific target. Research focused on the following areas is of highest interest:

• Synucleinopathies, such as Parkinson’s disease and Multiple System Atrophy
• Hearing loss
• Autoimmune/autoinflammatory diseases
• Pyroptosis-associated diseases
• Highly creative proposals focused on microglia biology in other diseases is also within scope
• Astellas are most interested in opportunities focused on small molecule or antibody therapeutic approaches, but are also open to other modalities, including cell therapy, and CAR-macrophage/microglia/Tregs for neuroinflammation

Developmental Stage

• Astellas are interested in opportunities from the target optimisation preclinical stage through to clinical phase 1 
• Therapeutic targets where the mechanism of action is proven or well understood is of highest interest
• Preclinical proof of concept has ideally been evaluated in a clinically translatable study (e.g. in vitro patient‑ derived/human/mammalian cells/tissues assay, in vivo animal model study). Non‑mammalian models are of less interest

Out of Scope

Opportunities focused on microglia in the context of the microbiome, well-known target approaches, steroids, natural products and drug repurposing are outside of Astellas’ research interests for this campaign. 

Incentives for Academics

Submissions will be reviewed on a case by case basis, with outcomes potentially including research collaborations, licencing of assets and expansion of expertise in project infancy.