Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Kanji Shono) established GenCom Co., an R&D type venture company for the analysis of human gene function, jointly with Yoshitomi Pharmaceutical (Osaka, President: Akio Kamakura) and Kyowo Hakko (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President: Tadashi Hirata) as of September 2, 1999. The technology was developed based on the achievement of Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Chemical (Machida City, Tokyo, President: Akira Miura). GenCom Co. will apply the government fund based on the capital investment system for R&D company of Japan Key Technology Center in the middle of September.

The main purposes of GenCom Co. are commissioned research works of genome recombination of experimental animals, research works for the analysis of human genome by the analysis of protein-protein interaction and the production of humanized model mouse. Business actions will be commenced targeting for pharmaceutical and chemical companies as well as for the public and private research institute.

Analyses of DNA sequence of human genome which have been conducted in many countries will be completed in the beginning of 21st Century, and the focus of genome science is shifting from structural analyses of genome and human gene to the analysis of their functions and networks. Big numbers of the structural information of genome and human gene are affected to the industrial areas, when their functions are solved, and keen international competitions have been started.

GenCom Co. will provide with the information on the functions of human gene and network of human genome, and so-called human type model animals which equip human gene. These products are expected to provide with new methods of drug creation in the 21st Century. For example, it makes the determination of target genes for the treatment of diseases and the production of model animals which is very close to the human diseases easier, and makes the development of new drugs much more efficiently. In addition to the various evaluation relating to the new drug development, this new technology must contribute to the development of health and environment industries of 21st Century such as new methods against the endcrinical disturbance by chemicals and carcinogenicity.

For your information, GenCom Co. is the first venture company established based on the basic technology of Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences. It means accumulated technologies of the Institute will be utilized in the wide range of areas.