Alchemedicine and Asahi Kasei Pharma Forge Exclusive Global License for HiSAP Lead Compounds
Alchemedicine Inc. (Head Office: Tsukuba, Ibaraki; President: Keigo Tanaka; hereafter “Alchemedicine”) and Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Yoshikazu Aoki; hereafter “Asahi Kasei Pharma”) today announced that they have entered into an exclusive global license agreement for HiSAP lead compounds developed by Alchemedicine. The compounds, which are currently at the non-clinical stage and target a single, undisclosed biological mechanism, will now be developed, manufactured, and commercialized by Asahi Kasei Pharma under this agreement.
This collaboration marks a significant milestone in both companies’ efforts to bring innovative therapies to patients with severe and difficult-to-treat diseases. By combining Alchemedicine’s proprietary HiSAP™ medicinal chemistry platform with Asahi Kasei Pharma’s extensive research and development capabilities, as well as its established international commercial presence, the partnership aims to accelerate the development of new therapeutic options globally.
Terms of the Exclusive Global License Agreement
Under the agreement, Asahi Kasei Pharma acquires exclusive worldwide rights to the HiSAP lead compounds. This includes the ability to research, develop, manufacture, and commercialize the compounds across multiple therapeutic areas.
In return, Alchemedicine will receive an upfront payment, as well as development, regulatory, and sales milestones totaling up to ¥41.3 billion. In addition, Alchemedicine is eligible to receive royalties from future product sales derived from the licensed compounds. These financial terms reflect the potential of the HiSAP compounds to address unmet medical needs while supporting both companies’ long-term growth strategies.
Combining Expertise for Innovative Drug Development
Alchemedicine’s HiSAP™ platform is recognized for its proprietary medicinal chemistry technology, designed to identify and optimize small molecules with therapeutic potential. This platform has enabled the discovery of unique lead compounds that could address diseases with limited treatment options.
By partnering with Asahi Kasei Pharma, Alchemedicine is leveraging the company’s deep R&D expertise, global development infrastructure, and commercial reach. Asahi Kasei Pharma has a proven track record in developing specialty pharmaceuticals and bringing new treatments to global markets. Together, the two companies intend to create a synergy that accelerates the translation of preclinical discoveries into clinically viable therapies.
Focus on Autoimmune and Intractable Diseases
The licensed HiSAP compounds are expected to have potential therapeutic applications in autoimmune diseases, based on their mechanism of action. Autoimmune diseases represent a significant unmet medical need, with millions of patients worldwide lacking effective treatments. By focusing on these conditions, Alchemedicine and Asahi Kasei Pharma aim to address complex and severe diseases that are often resistant to standard therapies.
Asahi Kasei Pharma will conduct further evaluations to explore additional indications for the compounds. The companies anticipate that this approach will maximize the therapeutic potential of the HiSAP platform while ensuring a patient-centric development strategy.
Strategic Benefits of the Collaboration
This agreement is mutually beneficial and represents a strategic step forward for both organizations:
- For Alchemedicine: The partnership allows the company to leverage Asahi Kasei Pharma’s global development and commercialization capabilities, ensuring that the HiSAP compounds reach patients worldwide. It also provides significant upfront funding and potential milestone and royalty revenue to support ongoing research and development efforts.
- For Asahi Kasei Pharma: The company gains access to innovative lead compounds with high potential in autoimmune and other difficult-to-treat diseases. By integrating these compounds into its development pipeline, Asahi Kasei Pharma strengthens its specialty pharmaceutical portfolio and advances its global growth strategy.
The combination of Alchemedicine’s innovation in drug discovery and Asahi Kasei Pharma’s global operational expertise is expected to accelerate the development of new treatments while ensuring that the companies maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving pharmaceutical landscape.
Commitment to Unmet Medical Needs
Both companies share a commitment to addressing unmet medical needs in severe and refractory diseases. The agreement emphasizes the importance of developing therapies that offer meaningful benefits to patients who currently have limited options. By focusing on innovative mechanisms and leveraging advanced medicinal chemistry technologies, Alchemedicine and Asahi Kasei Pharma aim to deliver transformative treatments that can improve quality of life and patient outcomes.
The collaboration also underscores a shared vision for sustainable growth. By combining resources and expertise, the companies are better positioned to navigate the complex drug development process, from preclinical research through regulatory approval and commercialization.
Future Outlook
Looking ahead, Alchemedicine and Asahi Kasei Pharma will work closely to advance the HiSAP lead compounds through preclinical and clinical development stages. Both companies are committed to rigorous scientific evaluation to ensure safety, efficacy, and regulatory compliance, while maintaining focus on addressing critical patient needs.
This partnership is expected to serve as a model for future collaborations that combine innovative biotechnology platforms with established global pharmaceutical capabilities. Through this agreement, Alchemedicine and Asahi Kasei Pharma are poised to contribute to the next generation of therapies for challenging diseases and to foster long-term value for patients,
stakeholders, and the broader healthcare community.
About Alchemedicine, Inc.
Alchemedicine is focused on the discovery of small-molecule drugs using the proprietary HiSAP™ medicinal chemistry platform under a vision of “We successively discover life changing treatments for various diseases that make a lasting positive contribution to society.” Alchemedicine uses HiSAP™ to quickly create drug candidate compounds with improved efficacy and safety. As HiSAP™ has a broad range of applicability, Alchemedicine simultaneously performs R&D in various different therapeutic areas. To learn more, visit https://alchemedicine.com/en/
SOURCE LINK: https://www.asahi-kasei.com/
