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– Recognized for the invention of a bispecific antibody that transformed treatment paradigm through an unconventional approach –

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  • Recognized for realizing a novel drug discovery concept in which a bispecific antibody replaces the function of coagulation Factor VIII, which is deficient in hemophilia A.
  • Provided improved convenience through prolonged activity and subcutaneous administration, and provided a treatment option regardless of factor VIII inhibitors, thereby helping address unmet medical needs in hemophilia A.
  • First time since the establishment of the Lasker Foundation in 1945 that three Japanese researchers have received the award simultaneously.

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TOKYO — Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) today announced that Dr. Kunihiro Hattori (former Senior Fellow of Chugai), Dr. Takehisa Kitazawa (Deputy Head of Research Division, Chugai), and Dr. Tomoyuki Igawa (Head of Research Division, Chugai), who led the creation of Hemlibra (emicizumab), a treatment for hemophilia A, have been awarded the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, one of the world’s most prestigious scientific honors.

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Hemophilia A is caused by a deficiency of coagulation Factor VIII, one of the proteins required for normal blood clotting. When activated, Factor VIII serves as a bridge that facilitates the activation of Factor X by activated Factor IX on the surface of activated platelets. The award recognizes the unconventional concept of replacing this function of Factor VIII with a bispecific antibody, which enabled prolonged therapeutic activity, the convenience of subcutaneous administration, and sustained bleed prevention regardless of the presence or absence of Factor VIII inhibitors (antibodies), thereby making a significant contribution to addressing unmet medical needs in hemophilia A.

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The Lasker Awards are among the most respected medical research awards in the United States, honoring individuals who have made significant contributions to medical science and public health. They are presented in the fields of basic medical research, clinical medical research, and public service. This marks the second time Japanese researchers have received the award in the clinical medical research category since the inception of the Lasker Awards in 1945, and the first time that three Japanese researchers have been recognized simultaneously in this category.

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Emicizumab is an antibody drug created through extensive research conducted by Chugai scientists. Conventional antibody therapeutics typically exert their effects through a “subtractive” approach, inhibiting the activity of disease-related molecules or cells, or eliminating target cells through immune-mediated mechanisms. In contrast, emicizumab became the world’s first antibody medicine to embody an “additive” approach, restoring a missing biological function by endowing the antibody itself with a function normally performed by a different protein*. It is also the world’s first recombinant full-length IgG bispecific antibody therapeutic designed to bind two different targets. During its creation, Chugai also developed and applied its proprietary antibody engineering technology, ART-Ig, which enabled commercial-scale manufacturing.

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The realization of this treatment was made possible through collaboration with Nara Medical University, which possesses extensive expertise in both basic and clinical research on hemophilia. Emicizumab was licensed out to Roche and Chugai worked together with Roche and Genentech to advance global clinical development and regulatory submissions, ultimately bringing the product to patients as Hemlibra. Following its approval in the United States in 2017 and in Japan and Europe in 2018, Hemlibra is now approved in more than 120 countries and regions worldwide**. An integrated analysis of the phase III HAVEN 1–4 studies demonstrated that, regardless of the presence or absence of factor VIII inhibitors, disease severity, or age, the primary endpoint of the annualized bleeding rate (ABR) for treated bleeds over 24-week intervals throughout the study was 1.4 events per year. Moreover, 70.8% of participants (277/391) experienced zero treated bleeds during Weeks 1–24, and this proportion increased over time to 82.4% (140/170) during Weeks 121–144. No new safety signals were identified, and the most common adverse event was injection-site reactions (27.8%).¹ In addition to providing sustained bleed prevention regardless of the presence or absence of factor VIII inhibitors, emicizumab offers a new treatment option by not inducing new factor VIII inhibitors and improving convenience through subcutaneous administration and extended dosing intervals. To date, it has been used by more than 30,000 people with hemophilia A worldwide (cumulative global total as of June 30, 2026).

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*As of 2023, among approved antibody drugs, emicizumab was the first drug in which the antibody itself substitutes for the function of a different protein that is deficient or dysfunctional.
** This product was evaluated and approved based on a clinical data package that included results from clinical studies involving dosing regimens not approved in Japan. Therefore, this document may contain descriptions that differ from the approved dosage and administration in Japan.

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Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai’s President and CEO, commented, “I am truly delighted that this original concept, inspired by our desire to reduce the burden on people with hemophilia A and their families, together with the innovative drug discovery technologies that brought it to life, has been recognized through this prestigious award. Emicizumab has delivered sustained bleed prevention regardless of the presence or absence of inhibitors, disease severity, or age, while reducing treatment burden through subcutaneous administration once every one to four weeks*, thereby bringing a new everyday life to people with hemophilia A and their families. I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the three researchers and express my profound respect for their creativity, leadership, and perseverance in tackling formidable challenges, as well as for the many individuals whose dedication and contributions to research and development made this achievement possible.