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Daiichi Sankyo has received the eighth Prime Minister’s Award for Japan Medical Research and Development Grand Prize for the company’s development of Ezharmia (valemetostat tosilate), a first-in-class cancer medicine targeting dual EZH1 and EZH2 epigenetic regulation in Japan in collaboration with Makoto Yamagishi, PhD, Associate Professor of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo.
The Japan Medical Research and Development Grand Prize, which was presented to Daiichi Sankyo and Dr. Yamagishi by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, honors one significant contribution to science each year. The award also aims to increase investment in and public understanding of medical research and development globally.
This year’s award highlights an important industry, government and academia collaboration in Japan, showcasing Dr. Yamagishi’s pioneering research demonstrating that epigenetic abnormalities, specifically excessive methylation of histones by the histone methyltransferases EZH1 and EZH2 play a critical role in the
onset and progression of T-cell lymphomas, as well as recognizing Daiichi Sankyo for the company’s involvement in the development of Ezharmia, the first dual EZH1 and EZH2 inhibitor approved worldwide for the treatment of relapsed or refractory adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). Ongoing research is underway globally evaluating the use of this innovative medicine alone or in combination with other cancer medicines across several types of cancer.
“Together with Dr Yamagishi, we are greatly honoured to receive this prestigious award. This collaboration, which ranged from elucidating the disease mechanisms of T-cell lymphoma to developing the world’s first dual EZH1 and EZH2 inhibitor, exemplifies a successful partnership between industry, government and academia,” said Hiroyuki Okuzawa, president and CEO, Daiichi Sankyo. “Daiichi Sankyo will continue to actively pursue innovative research and development collaborations such as this to continue to deliver innovative medicines to patients worldwide.
This is the second time that Daiichi Sankyo has received the Prime Minister’s Award, following its 2023 recognition for the discovery of its DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology that led to the global development of Enhertu. Since receiving the award in 2023, one additional DXd ADC has been approved globally, Datroway , and several other DXd ADCs remain in clinical development for the treatment of various cancers.
Ezharmia (valemetostat tosilate) is a first-in-class dual inhibitor of EZH1 and EZH2 that was discovered by Daiichi Sankyo. Ezharmia is approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL and for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory ATLL. It is an investigational medicine in all countries outside of Japan.
Daiichi Sankyo is an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society that discovers, develops and delivers new standards of care to enrich the quality of life around the world. With more than 120 years of experience, Daiichi Sankyo leverages its world-class science and technology to create new modalities and innovative medicines for people with cancer, cardiovascular and other diseases with high unmet medical need.
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