TOKYO– Axcelead, Inc. and A2 Healthcare Corporation have announced a new strategic partnership aimed at accelerating pharmaceutical research and development in Japan. The collaboration will establish a comprehensive, end-to-end support system for drug discovery and development, spanning from early-stage research through clinical trials and manufacturing.
The alliance brings together Axcelead’s strengths in drug discovery and mRNA contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) with A2 Healthcare’s expertise as a full-service contract research organization (CRO). Together, the companies aim to bolster Japan’s position in global drug development and address critical challenges such as drug attrition and the need for improved domestic pharmaceutical innovation.
Under the agreement, the two firms will create an integrated framework to support academia, biotech startups, and pharmaceutical companies—both domestic and international—through every phase of drug R&D. This includes services in discovery, preclinical testing, regulatory guidance, clinical development, and scalable production.
“This partnership with A2 Healthcare enables us to deliver seamless support across the entire drug development pipeline,” said Dr. Yoshinori Ikeura, Director, Co-CEO, and CTO of Axcelead. “We are committed to driving innovation in new drug development and contributing to a more robust healthcare ecosystem in Japan.”
Axcelead’s operations include its drug discovery arms—Axcelead Drug Discovery Partners in Kanagawa and Axcelead Tokyo West Partners in Tokyo—as well as ARCALIS, Inc., its mRNA CDMO business based in Fukushima. ARCALIS houses Asia-Pacific’s first GMP-compliant API manufacturing facility dedicated to mRNA therapeutics and vaccines.
A2 Healthcare, with deep roots in clinical development, recently expanded its global footprint with the opening of a U.S. office in Boston. The company is also leading “J-STEP” (Japan Strategic Teaming & Entry Program), an initiative to counteract drug loss in Japan and promote international collaboration in drug innovation.
“We are excited to combine Axcelead’s drug discovery expertise with our capabilities in clinical development and pharmaceutical value enhancement,” said Hitoshi Kamiya, President and CEO of A2 Healthcare. “This partnership represents a critical step in our shared mission to improve success rates in drug development and deliver meaningful healthcare solutions.”
The two companies will jointly pursue R&D initiatives that aim to enhance drug discovery in Japan and contribute to global advancements in pharmaceutical science and patient care.
