Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MTPC, and AstraZeneca announced a multi-year research collaboration in diabetic nephropathy on August 20, 2014. The collaboration, which is set to last for three years, will range from target selection to delivering small molecule candidate drugs.

The goal of this research collaboration is to leverage complementary strengths along with expertise and assets to authenticate and progress novel research targets and molecules towards clinical development.

The research will take place in conjunction at MTPC’s Japanese facilities and AstraZeneca’s Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Innovative Medicines Unit in Sweden. The involved organizations believe that the collaboration will produce high quality candidate drugs more quickly than from working individually. The research does not require financial commitment and the involved parties will equally contribute resource at their own expense.

Takashi Kobayashi, Division manager of MTPC’s research division, said in a statement, “MTPC is now focusing its drug discovery research efforts and multifaceted translational research, including collaboration with Kyoto University Hospital and TMK project, to developing new treatments for chronic kidney disease patients.” Kobayashi continued, “We expect the new collaboration with AstraZeneca will strengthen the expertise of both companies in this area and accelerate the delivery of new medicines for patients with diabetic nephropathy.”

According to the National Institutes of Health, diabetic nephropathy is kidney disease or damage in people with diabetes, and it is a complication of diabetes. Kidney damage may begin five to 10 years prior to symptoms. Symptoms in those with more severe and chronic kidney disease might have symptoms such as fatigue, generally feeling ill, poor appetite, and swelling of the legs.