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In October 2024, six Eisai employees participated in an overnight social gathering organized by the “Pediatric Brain Tumor Network” (PBTN), which is a patient advocacy group for brain cancers. Additionally, in response to PBTN’s request to learn about drug discovery research, a laboratory tour was arranged at the Tsukuba Research Laboratory in February 2024 for 33 members of the advocacy group, together with 19 Eisai employees.

These two activities were conducted as part of the hhc initiative entitled the “Pediatric AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) Cancer Project”. Eisai employees have been participating in the overnight social gatherings organized by PBTN since 2019.

Kazuyuki Fukushima, a researcher involved in epilepsy-related projects at the time, believed that Eisai, with its strengths in both neurology and oncology, had the potential to address the unmet needs of brain tumor patients, and so participated in an external information exchange event on brain tumors. Through the invitation of a patient he met at the event, he had the opportunity to participate in the patient advocacy group’s overnight social gathering.

As a result of various interactions with patients and their families, K. Fukushima learned that epilepsy patients with brain tumors struggle not only with the tumor itself, but also often face difficulties living their lives as they wish due to seizures and the side effects of antiepileptic medications. Since it is generally reported that satisfaction rates for epilepsy treatment and the contribution of antiepileptic drugs are high, K. Fukushima felt a gap where potential concerns were not fully captured in textbooks and scientific papers, and decided to start a dialogue with epilepsy patients and their families.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, when face-to-face interactions were challenging, he consistently maintained remote communication with patients. Through this continuous dialogue, he empathized the true feelings of patients and their families, and reached a deep understanding of their concerns, such as "I want to have medications with fewer side effects (I don't want my daily life to be taken over by the treatment)" and "I want medicine to cure epilepsy (I want to feel the effectiveness of medications. I do not want to continue a treatment when I cannot perceive the effect)".

 “I strive to create medications that patients and their families are truly in need of.” With this sentiment, K. Fukushima shifted his perspective. Instead of traditional symptomatic treatments, he initiated a new project based on a drug development hypothesis that approaches the pathophysiology of epilepsy to cure patients of the disease itself. With the strong collaboration of his colleagues who echoed his fierce motivation, K. Fukushima spent a long time conducting efficacy evaluation in pharmacology studies using non-clinical disease models. With this tremendous effort, they finally validated the drug development hypothesis and are moving forward with the project.

 K. Fukushima holds an unwavering belief as a drug discovery researcher: “All for patients.” Before proceeding with any projects he is involved in, he places great importance on visiting patients and their families, listening to their stories, and incorporating their feelings into the development of projects. This approach is rooted in two of his major past experiences.

The one is Fukushima’s own past. As a junior high and high school student, he suffered with a life-threatening illness and feared for his life. Without knowing the cause, he was hospitalized and had to endure days of pain with only IV treatment. During this time, he simply wished to return home and resume his normal student life.

The other experience involves his daughter's heart condition. After discovering that she had a heart disease, he desperately collected information about the condition, its treatments, and prognosis. He also searched for surgical methods that would leave minimal surgical scars to reduce the post-surgery psychological burden and sought out skilled surgeons. As a researcher, he always asks himself- what if the patient were himself or his family? This profound empathy drives his unwavering dedication to drug development.

K. Fukushima recalls, “The plea of a patient who said "Please don't forget us” are words that will stay in my mind forever. This time, with the support of my colleagues, we have successfully validated a drug discovery hypotheses that was born from dialogue (Socialization) with patients and their families. However, when I picture “what if it were me” or “what if it were my family” I realize that we should not be relieved with the achievement. Even while we are doing this, patients and their families are suffering. We will continue our efforts to deliver  essential medicines to patients as quickly as possible by further expanding our efforts to collaborate with both internal and external partners.” 

Eisai will continue striving to realize patient-centric medical care through our drug discovery efforts, integrating the concerns of patients identified through hhc  activities centered around Socialization.

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