AriBio Co. Ltd. has secured an exclusive licensing deal for AR1001, an investigational medication for early-stage Alzheimer’s disease, in China. The deal has a value of up to $770 million USD. As part of the agreement, a non-refundable upfront payment of approximately $90 million USD will be required, while the total deal could reach an estimated $770 million USD, including milestone payments and additional royalties.
The lead-up towards this deal was driven by the growing Alzheimer’s population in China, prompting pharmaceutical companies to seek new, safer, and more effective oral remedies. AriBio has already established a partner for exclusive marketing rights in South Korea, Samjin Pharmaceutical, for a staggering 100 billion KRW.
Despite the competitive market for Alzheimer’s drugs in China, the licensee has yet to be disclosed. The global Phase 3 clinical trial for AR1001, named PolarisAD, is currently ongoing in the US, UK, and South Korea, and awaits regulatory approval in China and the EU.
Despite the market competition for Alzheimer’s treatment in China, the licencing party’s identity has not been revealed upon request until a mutually agreed time. Global Phase 3 clinical trial, PolarisAD, for AR1001 in early Alzheimer’s disease patients is currently actively enrolling in the United States, the United Kingdom, and South Korea, and is awaiting regulatory approval in China and the European Union. This trial will take place across 180 global sites.
In a statement, Matthew Jai Jun Choung, CEO and Chairman of AriBio, emphasised the firm’s dedication towards creating impactful treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Choung stated that AriBio is in discussions with other potential partners in Asia, the Middle East, South America, Europe, and the United States, indicating possible expansion in its AR1001 programme.
AR1001 is a PDE5 inhibitor developed as an oral treatment for Alzheimer. Previous preclinical studies have confirmed its neuroprotective effects, such as inhibiting neuron apoptosis and restoring synaptic plasticity. Moreover, it has shown potency in reducing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins in previous models and a Phase 2 trial.
AriBio Co. Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company based in South Korea, with branches both locally and in the United States. The company’s focus is on developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, expanding partnerships to deliver meaningful treatments for such conditions.
