EA Pharma and FRONTEO Launch Co-Creation Project for AI-Powered Target Discovery in Drug Development

■ Challenges in Drug Discovery and the Significance of This Project

In today’s drug discovery environment, the diversification and increasing complexity of target diseases have created a need for the identification of highly novel target molecules and mechanisms that are difficult to find using conventional research methods. Furthermore, there is often a gap in process and knowledge between dry research (data analysis) and wet research (biological verification using cells or animals), which has hindered improvements in R&D speed and success rates.
To address these challenges, EA Pharma and FRONTEO have launched a co-creation project using DDAIF to focus on target discovery in drug development. Unlike typical outsourcing arrangements, researchers from both companies will work closely together from the earliest stages of the project. By utilizing DDAIF to accelerate the discovery of highly novel targets and the generation of hypotheses, and by transitioning to wet research at optimal timing, the project aims to significantly improve both the speed and success rate of drug discovery.

■ About EA Pharma Co., Ltd.

https://www.eapharma.co.jp/en/
EA Pharma Co., Ltd., a gastrointestinal specialty pharmaceutical company with a full value chain covering R&D, manufacturing and logistics, and sales and marketing, was established in April 2016 through the integration of Eisai Co., Ltd.’s gastrointestinal business — which has been engaged in this field for over 60 years — and the gastrointestinal business of the Ajinomoto Group, centered on amino acids.

■ About FRONTEO Drug Discovery AI Factory (DDAIF)  

https://lifescience.fronteousa.com/products/drug-discovery-ai-factory/

FRONTEO Drug Discovery AI Factory (DDAIF) is an AI drug discovery support service that combines KIBIT, an AI specialized in natural language processing (patented in Japan and the U.S.), with the expertise of FRONTEO's drug discovery researchers and AI engineers. By analyzing disease-related gene networks and building hypotheses about target candidates, DDAIF provides powerful support for researchers' decision-making in drug development.
This service has already been adopted by several major pharmaceutical companies and has a proven track record.

■About co-creation project

Many pharmaceutical research companies use conventional drug discovery platforms in dry research (data analysis) and wet research (biological testing). Dry research results are commonly advanced through an R&D pipeline without an active exchange of opinions between R&D stakeholders and the results do not incorporate robust information sources between companies in charge of dry and wet research. Without rigorous vetting and robust information sources, R&D projects may not smoothly transit from dry research to wet lab verification.
This co-creation project will enable close collaboration between researchers from both companies in the dry-to-wet process of drug development, thereby creating synergistic deliverables that incorporate knowledge and technologies from both companies. This is expected to improve the success rate of subsequent drug development in similar cases. FRONTEO is currently in discussions with multiple pharmaceutical companies to evaluate FRONTEO’s DDAIF.

■About FRONTEO, Inc.  https://www.fronteo.com/en/

FRONTEO provides its proprietary specialized AI KIBIT to support expert judgment across domains confronting social challenges. Its unique natural language processing technology (patented in Japan, the U.S., and Europe) enables fast, high-precision analysis without reliance on training data volume or computational power. Additionally, patented technology that maps (visualizes structure) analyzed information allows KIBIT to directly influence expert insights, and in recent years, KIBIT has been applied in hypothesis generation and target discovery for drug development.

To achieve the philosophy of "providing solutions that do not overlook risks and opportunities buried in records and realizing fairness in the information society," FRONTEO is promoting the social implementation of KIBIT's unique technology and AI solutions in the following areas: life science AI, risk management (business intelligence and compliance support, economic security, and legal tech AI), and DX (business intelligence and professional support).

Founded in August 2003, FRONTEO was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Mothers Market (now the Growth Market) on June 26, 2007. The company has offices in Japan, the U.S., and South Korea, and holds a Type 1 Marketing License for Medical Devices as well as registration for the sale of controlled medical devices. As of March 31, 2025, FRONTEO’s capital stands at 899,176,000 yen.

*The technology used in Drug Discovery AI Factory is protected by 21 patents held by FRONTEO in Japan, South Korea, the U.S., and Europe.
*FRONTEO, KIBIT, and Drug Discovery AI Factory are trademarks or registered trademarks of FRONTEO in Japan, Europe, the U.S., and South Korea.
*EA Pharma is registered trademarks of EA Pharma Co., Ltd. in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Laos, and Myanmar.