ZEON Corporation: R&D Center Overview

Microorganism Group, now Biochemistry Laboratory, was founded in the Research and Development Center in 1983. The purpose was to acquire bio-related technologies, which were expected to impact the chemical industry of the 21st century. Since then, the laboratory developed, among other things, the first DNA synthesizer in Japan as well as the first gene gun for plant genetic engineering.

The laboratory also focused on the molecular virology, especially the genetic manipulation of the vaccinia virus, which belongs to the poxvirus and had been the safe, efficacious and inexpensive freeze-dried live vaccine used to eradicate the smallpox on Earth. Since the virus was proved to be safe for immunization and it has a DNA genome large enough to carry multiple protective antigen genes from other pathogens, we thought the recombinant vaccinia virus was a key to developing highly advanced human vaccines. In fact, we had developed this technology by constructing vaccinia recombinants harboring model genes from hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, and hepatitis C viruses. Furthermore, in collaboration with the National Institute of Infectious Disease, the laboratory has been engaged in the AIDS vaccine development.

In addition, since 1987, by applying our technology to the avian poxvirus, we developed the recombinant fowlpox virus system to produce genetically engineered poultry vaccines. In 1994, our efforts brought about the first recombinant vaccine in the world, Newcastle Disease-Fowlpox Divalent Vaccine, which was approved and registered in the US as the VectorVax FP-N by our US subsidiary, Syntro Zeon, L. C. We also developed other fowlpox-vectored vaccines, which are now in the process of obtaining product licenses in the U.S.

Besides the recombinant fowlpox vaccines, we also made extensive research to manipulate genetically the Avian Herpes Virus. The virus is avirulent but persistently infectious to chickens, thus giving a chance to materialize a super vaccine applicable to maternal antibody-positive commercial chickens.

Since chickens and eggs are the foods with the highest rate of feed-to-meat conversion, the broiler and egg industries seem to contribute to the alleviation of the future global food shortage. Our mission is to improve human welfare indirectly by developing inexpensive and efficacious new vaccines for these industries.