Astellas Pharma, Inc. and Immuno-Biological Laboratories Co., Ltd. have concluded a collaborative research agreement for pharmaceutical applications of recombinant human proteins made using transgenic silkworms. In the collaborative research, Astellas and IBL will implement R&D with respect to a useful recombinant human protein made using transgenic silkworms, such as the examination and evaluation of the production method and the possibility of development as medicine. In addition, Astellas and IBL will discuss the collaboration for medicines based on the results of the collaborative research. IBL has developed a production system for the efficient secretion of soluble recombinant proteins in the cocoon of transgenic silkworms and has succeeded in the production of various useful proteins including antibodies and human collagen.

Currently, IBL is actively progressing with the commercialization of these proteins as raw materials for reagents in research, in vitro diagnostics, cosmetics and veterinary drugs.