Takeda Pharmaceuticals, with its substantial revenue of $40 billion in 2022, offers biopharma firms the chance to pursue their aspirations through COCKPI-T Funding. Despite investment sentiment downturns in the biotech sector, this initiative provides opportunities for startups to secure research grants for new drug development. The name 'Cockpit' draws inspiration from the compartment for the pilot in an aircraft. 

The industry anticipates that COCKPI-T Funding campaign will greatly enhance the research and development (R&D) efforts of early-stage biopharma companies in Korea. As selected companies share their experiences of how the funding aided their pharmaceutical R&D journey, it will be intriguing to observe if a Korean pharmaceutical company can join Takeda’s 'cockpit' on the path to new drug development. 

Takeda Pharmaceuticals, via its Asian and Oceanian offices, recently announced a call for proposals from biotech startups in Korea to participate in the COCKPI-T Funding campaign for new drug development. The application deadline for this opportunity is August 1st. 

The COCKPI-T Funding project, initially launched in Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical’s headquarters, in 2015, aims to provide research grant support for new drug development. Overtime, participation in the project has expanded, and this year, universities, research institutes, and biotech startups from Japan, Korea, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand, and Taiwan are invited to submit their applications.

Takeda Pharmaceuticals has placed an emphasis on introducing various areas of interest that require innovative therapeutics, which the company prioritizes. This year's funding focus primarily revolve around rare diseases, including the following: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Frontotemporal lobar degeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple system atrophy, Cerebral amyloid angiopathy, Huntington’s disease, Ataxias, Myotonic dystrophy type 1, Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, Myasthenia gravis, X-linked myotubular myopathy and epilepsy.

Furthermore, Takeda is actively seeking collaboration opportunities with biotech firms specializing in various technologies such as targeted protein degradation (AbTAC, AUTAC, PROTAC, etc.), DNA/RNA-targeting molecules, polypharmacology-driven approaches, and more. They are also interested in partnering with firms that focus on human pathophysiology and the development of novel target molecules for immune-oncology drug discovery. Takeda Pharmaceuticals aims to establish a collaborative system for Korean biopharma startups to facilitate drug commercialization. The specific platforms of interest include immune-oncology drug discovery platform, base editing for liver diseases, intestinal cell delivery platforms, nucleic acid drug development (including novel synthesis technologies), and drug delivery system technologies.

Companies specializing in the listed technologies are encouraged to submit their propsals by August 1st, 5:00pm.  The first selection process will be completed by the end of September. Subsequently, a final winner will be chosen through a video conference in November before mid-November 2023. The selected winner will  receive the research fund for new drug development. 

The selection process includes a crucial step where experts in drug development from Takeda provide feedback. During this stage, the application form content will be thoroughly discussed, and the detailed research content will be fine-tuned. The selected companies will have the opportunity to receive feedback from various perspectives to enhance their research proposals. 

The research fund provided through COCKPI-T can reach up to 10 million yen (approximately $92 million, 8 million yen for platform technologies), including indirect costs. The winning company not only receives financial support but also benefits from networking opportunities and guidance from experts. The industry recognizes that the support amount offered by COCKPI-T is significant compared to other funding programs for early-stage drug development, even when considering direct research expenses. 

Furthermore, the program is noteworthy for providing opportunities to receive advice on the path towards drug commercialization from experts in new drug development. In the biotech sector, it has been acknowledged that there are limited opportunities for assessment in terms of commercialization potential, and difficulties in securing funding sources. 

BIONSIGHT, the recipient of the COCKPI-T project last year, shared their positive experience with the program, highlighting not only the financial support but also the multidimensional open innovation it provided. BIONSIGHT is a specialized company utilizing chemoproteomic profiling technology with mass spectrometry and artificial intelligence (AI) for their new drug development platform. 

Ho-jin Yoo, Chief Technical Officer of BIONSIGHT, explained that their selection was based on the alignment of their R&D direction with the goals of the COCKPI-T campaign. Yoo commented, "There were no specific restrictions on the use (of research funds), allowing us the freedom from financial burdens and constraints during the research. Additionally, BIONSIGHT received valuable feedback during the presentation process and throughout the research phase following the selection.

Mr. Yoo expressed "Through our participation in the program, we had the chance to discuss how our technology could align with the interest of global pharmaceutical companies like Takeda Pharmaceuticals. This opportunity guided us in the right direction ensuring that our achievements go beyond mere research projects and have the potential to become a commercially viable new drug development technology. 

Mr. Yoo emphasized that the most significant benefit of being selected in the campaign was the establishment of direct communication channel with global pharmaceutical firms. By leveraging Takeda's advice and guidance, BIONSIGHT was able to develop a detailed roadmap for the company, thereby increasing the likelihood of translating their research results into successful commercial products. 

Regarding the recommended approach for future COCKPI-T applications, Mr. Yoo highlighted the challenges faced by technology-based companies, particularly in objectively evaluating the direction, practical necessity and potential of their technologies. He pointed out that bio startups, pharmaceutical companies, and global pharmaceutical firms may differ in their perspectives or standards. In contrast to government programs or corporate research projects in Korea, the COCKPI-T program’s objective is not solely to complete the research within the project period, but rather to develop new technologies in the field of new drug development that pave the way for subsequent research and applications.

He continued, "When applying for campaigns like COCKPI-T, it can be advantageous during the selection process to highlight the strengths of your company, specifically in relation to the areas of interest outlined by Takeda. It is important to clearly articulate how your research would not only align with Takeda’s objectives but also bring mutual benefits to both parties.”