Shikoku Rika

Shikoku Rika is a contract research organization (CRO) focused on nonclinical pharmacokinetic studies using radiolabeled compounds. This overview presents the characteristics of Shikoku Rika’s nonclinical studies, an example disease model, and representative case studies. It is intended as a reference when selecting a CRO for nonclinical studies.

Non-Clinical Studies at Shikoku Rika

Pharmacokinetic studies with radiolabeled compounds

Shikoku Rika conducts core ADME studies utilizing radiolabeled compounds (e.g., 14C, 3H) and maintains technologies that enable prediction of clinical-dose pharmacokinetics from early stages of drug discovery and development. Strengths include microdose studies and microtracer studies using stable-isotope tracer methods. In addition to study designs aligned with international standards (FDA, ICH), advanced analytical platforms such as Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) are implemented to quantify drugs at low concentrations. Comprehensive evaluation of chemical substances is supported, from safety testing of pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals to metabolite identification.

Specializing in genetically engineered animal models

In collaboration with universities and research institutions, Shikoku Rika conducts nonclinical studies using genetically engineered mice. The organization maintains neurodegenerative disease models (in partnership with QPS, Austria) and iPS cell–derived teratoma evaluation models. Expertise also includes antitumor efficacy studies using cancer cell transplantation models (subcutaneous, organ, and intracerebral implantation). End-to-end services are offered—from creation of genome-edited animals using CRISPR/Cas9 technology through phenotypic analysis. The proprietary PXB mouse (a human hepatocyte–repopulated model) enables assessment of human-relevant drug metabolism.

Contract service for drug efficacy evaluation using COPD model mice

Shikoku Rika’s contracted service for drug efficacy evaluation employs a COPD mouse model generated by exposing C57BL/6 mice to mainstream tobacco smoke for three months using a tobacco smoke inhalation device, followed by efficacy assessment.

Partner CROs and Collaborators associated with Shikoku Rika

Anpyo Center Inc.

Anhyo Center conducts contracted studies on the safety of chemical substances—primarily pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals—and provides contract production of genetically engineered mice, sales of model mice, and contracted nonclinical studies using the produced models. As the Japan distributor for QPS (Austria), the company offers contracted Non-Clinical studies that utilize QPS’s genetically engineered animal models of neurodegenerative disease.

TRANS GENIC INC.

TransGenic is a CRO specializing in nonclinical studies that employ genetically engineered animals. The company’s core capability is the creation of genome-edited mice using CRISPR/Cas9 technology (knockout/knock-in/transgenic), and it supplies disease models such as Parkinson’s disease and diabetes. Drug efficacy evaluations are conducted at GLP-compliant facilities using central nervous system (CNS) and metabolic disease models, supporting programs from early discovery through transition to clinical trials. Leveraging high human-relevance PXB mice and proprietary disease-visualization technology, TransGenic can generate data aligned with international standards (FDA/ICH).

Funakoshi

For Shikoku Rika’s contracted service evaluating drug efficacy using COPD model mice, Funakoshi collaborates by supplying the Shibata Kagaku SG-300 Tobacco Smoke Generator and the Tobacco Smoke Exposure Chamber. Using the supplied equipment, C57BL/6 mice are exposed to tobacco mainstream smoke for three months to establish a COPD model. This approach shortens the typical six-month model-creation period and yields models with pronounced alveolar wall destruction. The resulting models exhibit neutrophil dominance in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and are suitable for efficacy evaluation in COPD research.

Non-Clinical Case Studies — Shikoku Rika

Alzheimer’s model (APPosk-Tg mice)

APPosk-Tg mice exhibit multiple Alzheimer’s disease pathologies, including synaptic loss, abnormal tau phosphorylation, glial activation, and neuronal death. The model supports the oligomer hypothesis in which Aβ oligomers drive Alzheimer’s pathology and can be used to study therapeutics that target these mechanisms.

Psychiatric and neurological disease model (proBDNF knock-in mouse)

Based on the hypothesis that impaired processing of proBDNF to mature BDNF contributes to psychiatric and neurological disorders, a knock-in mouse carrying a processing-suppressing mutation was created. Behavioral testing in this model is used to study depression and other psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Atopic dermatitis model (IL33 transgenic mouse)

To investigate the role of IL33 in skin, a transgenic mouse expressing the IL33 gene under the control of a skin-specific keratin-14 promoter was generated. From eight weeks of age, all mice naturally developed atopic dermatitis, supporting a mechanism in which increased eosinophils contribute to disease onset.

Shikoku Rika Company Information

Since its establishment in 1979, Shikoku Rika has been committed to the development of the life science research field in the four prefectures of Shikoku. The company conducts contracted non-clinical studies using genetically engineered mice.