• New collaboration to explore novel drug discovery targets across indications and identify joint research projects

• Synergizing RIKEN’s excellence in basic research with Bayer’s expertise in global drug discovery

OSAKA/TOKYO, Japan I October 08, 2019 I Bayer AG (Bayer), and RIKEN Innovation Co., Ltd. (RIKEN Innovation) today entered into a strategic collaboration agreement to jointly explore novel drug discovery opportunities across indications. The collaboration aims to identify potential joint research projects combining RIKEN Innovation’s expertise in academic basic research with Bayer’s global experience in drug discovery and development.

Under the terms of the agreement, both partners will jointly explore potential drug targets, utilize basic drug discovery technologies as well as assess disease mechanisms, leveraging on research insights from RIKEN Innovation. In cases where a path for novel drug target is identified for specific partnering opportunities, RIKEN Innovation will coordinate the advancement of the potential project.

“The key to discovering and developing new therapeutic options for patients around the world is collaboration between industry and competent partners in academia. We are extremely honored to be able to pursue innovation together with RIKEN, one of the world’s top national research institutes. We firmly believe that this partnership will help to advance science to the benefit of patients suffering from severe disease conditions,” said Dr. Joerg Moeller, Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer AG’s Pharmaceuticals Division and Head of Research and Development.

The partnership will be facilitated by Bayer’s Open Innovation Center Japan in Osaka and RIKEN Innovation, a new company established and wholly owned by RIKEN of Japan to advance industry-academia partnerships and translate RIKEN’s research achievements into social value for the public, in close collaboration with its parent organization. With over 100 years of history, RIKEN is Japan’s largest national research organization with over 3,500 employees across 10 research sites including Kobe, Osaka, Tokyo, Harima, Yokohama and Wako. RIKEN Innovation’s efforts span a diverse range of scientific disciplines including cell and developmental biology, neuroscience, immunology, and AI technology, and various interdisciplinary fields, producing about 2,500 publications annually.

“This partnership will enable collaboration between scientists at RIKEN and at Bayer, a global company that has contributed to healthcare innovation in Japan for more than 100 years,” said Hiroshi Matsumoto, President of RIKEN. “The newly established RIKEN Innovation will support this partnership’s advancement by seamlessly connecting the scientific expertise and resources of both Bayer and RIKEN.”

“Our company was founded as an external entity to support RIKEN in promoting and facilitating industry-academia collaboration,” said Yoshihiro Aburatani, President of RIKEN Innovation. “Our purpose is to expedite the process of putting RIKEN’s research achievements to work for society, and to enable collaboration with industry partners. Our partnership with Bayer is a meaningful first step in growing our industry-academia scientific collaboration. We will work closely with RIKEN and do our best in advancing this partnership.”

About RIKEN

RIKEN is Japan’s largest and most comprehensive national research organization for basic and applied science and a world leader in a diverse array of scientific disciplines. For nearly a century since its foundation in 1917, RIKEN has fostered pioneering, innovative research in fields spanning the entire range of the natural sciences, from developmental biology and neuroscience to quantum physics and computer science. RIKEN encompasses a network of world-class research centers across Japan, offering state-of-the-art facilities that rank among the best in the world. Please see http://www.riken.jp/

About RIKEN Innovation Co., Ltd.

RIKEN Innovation was established on September 5, 2019 as a company wholly owned by RIKEN, according to the new Japanese Law of Active Creation of Scientific Technology and Innovation. RIKEN Innovation is responsible for business relevant to industry-academia collaboration, cooperating closely with RIKEN under its commission to give RIKEN’s research results swiftly back to society and contributing more than ever to creating innovation. Please see http://www.innovation-riken.jp (Japanese language)

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of healthcare and nutrition. Its products and services are designed to benefit people by supporting efforts to overcome the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development, and the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal

2018, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of 39.6 billion euros. Capital expenditures amounted to 2.6 billion euros, R&D expenses to 5.2 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com .

SOURCE: Bayer