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Kaigene Licenses Autoimmune Therapy KG006 to Taisho Pharmaceutical for Japan
Friday, July 31, 2026
Kaigene, a US-based biotechnology company focused on antibody therapies for autoimmune diseases, has signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Taisho Pharmaceutical for the development and commercialisation of its next-generation human neonatal Fc receptor (hFcRn) inhibitor, KG006, in Japan.
Under the agreement, Kaigene will receive an upfront payment of US$5 million. The company is also eligible for development, regulatory and sales milestone payments worth up to US$22 million and ¥57.5 billion (approximately US$351 million), subject to the achievement of agreed milestones. In addition, Kaigene will receive tiered royalties on net sales of KG006 in Japan.
Taisho will hold exclusive rights to develop, obtain regulatory approval for and commercialise KG006 in the Japanese market.
The partnership strengthens Taisho’s autoimmune disease portfolio while providing Kaigene with a local partner that has experience in clinical development, regulatory activities and commercial operations in Japan. Taisho has previously developed and commercialised Nanozora®, an anti-TNF VHH therapy, in the country.
The agreement complements Kaigene’s existing global partnership with Celltrion, which holds the development and commercialisation rights for KG006 outside Japan and Greater China. Subject to future clinical and regulatory planning, Taisho is expected to participate in the planned multi-regional Phase III clinical trial led by Celltrion. The collaboration between Kaigene, Celltrion and Taisho is intended to support global clinical development and help accelerate the progress of KG006.
KG006, also known as CT-P77 by Celltrion, is a next-generation FcRn inhibitor designed with a novel antibody structure. It is being developed as a potential treatment for autoimmune diseases, offering deep pathogenic antibody reduction, longer-lasting effects and a patient-administered subcutaneous injection. FcRn inhibitors are considered a promising class of therapies with potential applications across a wide range of antibody-mediated autoimmune conditions.
Source: prnewswire.com
