Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. have agreed to form an alliance in biotechnology to focus on the research and development of pharmaceuticals using data from the human genome, the two firms said Monday.
The alliance will aim to combine Mitsubishi Chemical's expertise in biotechnology, life science and chemicals with Fujitsu's advanced information technology, they said.
"We have agreed to cooperate in creating new businesses as well as boosting existing businesses by combining biotechnology and information technology, which represent the key to technological development in the 21st century," the two firms said in a statement.
They said a joint task force will be set up to work out details of the alliance and come up with specific projects.
The two firms said they aim to create a "new life science society" by promoting genomic drugs and personalized medicine -- new pharmaceuticals made using data from the genome.
Mitsubishi Chemical, the nation's largest comprehensive chemical maker, has been strengthening its biotechnology-related business and, given the growing need for computer technology in the biotech industry, has been searching for a business partner in the computer industry.
Fujitsu is also developing drugs using genetic data under a project with Daiichi Pharmaceutical Co. and Celestar Lexico-Sciences Inc.
Under the five-year project, announced last October, the three parties are studying genetic functions related to diseases such as cancer, dementia, and circulatory organ and infectious diseases.