Fuji Pharma and FRONTEO Launch Co-Creation Project to Evaluate Drug Discovery Seeds in the Women's Healthcare Field

In this project, Fuji Pharma, a specialty pharmaceutical company with strong expertise in women's healthcare, will collaborate with FRONTEO's research team, which is experienced in both drug discovery and AI, to identify novel target molecules＊2 in the women's healthcare field. FRONTEO will provide analysis results from DDAIF, which Fuji Pharma will use as a scientific evaluation index when considering in-licensing＊3  potential drug discovery seeds.

For pharmaceutical companies, the introduction of drug discovery seeds is a critical decision-making process that requires advanced expertise for proper selection. DDAIF is expected to provide scientific support for these decisions thereby increasing the probability of successful drug discovery.

■ Note:

*1 Drug discovery seeds: The "seeds" of pharmaceutical research and development, such as compounds, antibodies, and drug discovery technologies that are thought to be effective in treating diseases.
*2 Target discovery: The process of identifying molecules (genes) that a drug will act upon, selecting those that can treat diseases or alleviate symptoms by suppressing or activating the function of those molecules with a drug.
*3 In-licensing: The acquisition of development and sales rights for drug candidate compounds from other companies or institutions, in addition to in-house R&D.

■ Challenges in Drug Discovery and the Significance of This Project

In recent years, the diversification and increasing complexity of target diseases in pharmaceutical R&D have created a need to identify highly novel target molecules and mechanisms that are difficult to uncover using traditional research methods. Furthermore, gaps in processes and knowledge between dry research (AI-driven data analysis) and wet research (biological validation using cells and animals) have hindered R&D speed and reduced success rates.
Unlike typical outsourcing arrangements, this co-creation project will see researchers from both companies working closely together from the earliest stages, leveraging their combined strengths, information, and expertise to maximize results efficiently and effectively.

■ Comment from Shuhei Morita, President and CEO of Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd.

“We have embarked on this co-creation project with FRONTEO to create new value in women’s healthcare. Evaluating drug discovery seeds is a critical process that can determine the success or failure of drug development, requiring scientifically grounded judgment. We believe that FRONTEO’s AI drug discovery support service, Drug Discovery AI Factory, will significantly enhance our R&D by enabling comprehensive and highly accurate analysis of vast amounts of literature. By combining the knowledge and technologies of both companies, we aim to produce results that lead to the creation of innovative drugs and contribute to improving women’s health and quality of life.”

■ Comment from FRONTEO Director/CSO Hiroyoshi Toyoshiba

“This co-creation project will utilize FRONTEO’s DDAIF not only to search for new drug discovery target candidates, but also to provide KIBIT’s analysis results as an index for scientific evaluation when Fuji Pharma considers introducing drug discovery seeds. AI, with its ability to analyze targets comprehensively and without bias, also offers significant advantages in evaluating in- and out-licensing opportunities. We look forward to this collaboration with Fuji Pharma leading to the creation of innovative pharmaceuticals.”

Through this project, both companies will integrate their expertise and technologies to accelerate R&D aimed at developing first-in-class drugs in women’s healthcare, thereby contributing to better healthcare and improved quality of life for patients.

■ About Fuji Pharma　https://www.fujipharma.jp/english/ir/
Fuji Pharma Co., Ltd. is a Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) listed, Japan‐based pharmaceutical company mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of prescription based pharmaceutical products. Since our establishment in 1965, Fuji has promoted corporate philosophy that "We help people lead healthy lives by offering excellent pharmaceuticals." and "Our corporate growth is proportional to our personal growth." Fuji Pharma focuses on women's healthcare with a wide variety of drugs for women's specific diseases, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menopausal disorders, Infertility, and contraception. Fuji Pharma is a leading company in women's healthcare and support health of women of all ages.

■ 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

 In conventional drug discovery, dry research (data analysis) and wet research (biological testing) are often carried out separately. Dry research results may advance through the R&D pipeline without active dialogue between stakeholders, and without sufficient information sharing between the organizations responsible for each stage. This lack of rigorous vetting and coordination can hinder a smooth transition from dry research to wet lab verification.
The co-creation project bridges this gap by fostering close collaboration between researchers from both companies throughout the dry-to-wet process. By combining their respective knowledge and technologies, the partners aim to produce synergistic results and improve the success rate of subsequent drug development projects. FRONTEO is also in discussions with multiple pharmaceutical companies to explore the adoption of its DDAIF platform.

■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.