Tanabe Research Laboratories (TRL) is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative biological drugs that will improve the lives of patients around the world.

Using our expertise in developing antibodies, TRL is focused on various approaches for seeking and destroying cancer cells or interfering with tumor environmental factors supportive of cancer growth.

Our current effort is on antibody drug conjugate-based drugs (ADCs) to provide cancer targeting properties to well established and novel toxins as well as addressing the significant unmet medical needs. We hope to improve the outcomes for those with difficult-to-treat cancers. TRL is also exploring immuno-oncology approaches to cancer by developing cellular therapies to complement its ADC programs.

TRL was established in San Diego in 1994 as a subsidiary of Japan-based Tanabe Pharmaceuticals, the second oldest pharmaceutical company in the world (est. 1678), to develop small molecule drugs for various non-oncology diseases. After Tanabe’s merger with Mitsubishi Pharmaceutical Corp. in 2007, TRL’s focus changed to create safe and effective biological therapies for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

In addition to our internal discovery efforts, we have established collaborations with academic groups and other pharmaceutical companies to use cutting-edge technologies, e.g. mass spectroscopy-based proteomics approaches. We have successfully identified several unique candidates associated with refractory cancers as targets for ADC-based therapeutics.

Our company-owned campus in San Diego is a source of great pride to the Tanabe team. Inspired by Japanese architecture and culture, our peaceful facility is home to a thriving community of scientists who have produced a wide range of promising drug candidates in various stages of development.