CHUGAI PHARMACEUTICAL CO., HEAD OF TRANSLATIONAL RESEACH DIVISION

Tomoyuki Igawa, Ph.D., graduated and was awarded Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo for studies in Engineering, Chemistry, and Biotechnology. Dr. Igawa started his career at Chugai Pharmaceutical, a member of the Roche group, and has led the effort to develop novel antibody engineering technologies, such as bispecific antibody for Hemlibra® (emicizumab), recycling antibody for Enspring® (satralizumab), half-life extension technology for Mitchga® (nemolizumab), and other various technologies applied to Chugai/Roche pipeline products.
After serving as CEO and Research Head of Chugai Singapore, Dr. Igawa is currently the Head of Translational Research Division in Chugai Pharmaceutical, responsible for early clinical development. Dr. Igawa has published > 40 peer reviewed papers and is an inventor of > 90 patents in antibody drug discovery.

The central role of FcRn in regulating immunoglobulin G (IgG) persistence and transport provides opportunities for targeting this receptor in multiple different diagnostic and therapeutic situations. The engineering of IgGs with higher affinity for FcRn can be used to produce antibodies with longer in vivo half-lives, but only if the low affinity of the IgG-FcRninteraction at near neutral pH is retained. Conversely, an engineered IgG or Fc fragmentwith increased affinity for FcRn at both acidic and near neutral pH acts as a potent inhibitor of FcRn. Consequently, such an antibody (‘Abdeg’, for antibody that enhancesIgG degradation) can lower the levels of endogenous IgG and has led to the FcRn antagonist, efgartigimod, that has been developed by argenx and recently approved for the treatment of myasthenia gravis. Our recent work has also resulted in the generation of engineered Fc-fusions that selectively clear antigen-specific antibodies (‘Seldegs’, for selective degradation). Developments related to the modulation of the dynamic behavior of IgG in the bodywill be presented.