Taiho Pharmaceutical to Acquire Araris Biotech in Oncology Expansion
Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Taiho Pharmaceutical has announced the full acquisition of Araris Biotech.
The transaction follows a research collaboration between the two companies initiated in November 2023. The acquisition is expected to be finalised in the first half of 2025, subject to necessary procedures.
Under the agreement, Taiho Pharmaceutical will make an initial payment of USD 400 million, with additional milestone payments of up to USD 740 million.
Araris, a spin-off from the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, is focused on developing advanced ADCs with improved design, high linker solubility, and simplified manufacturing.
ADCs are designed to selectively deliver cytotoxic drugs to cancer cells by attaching them to antibodies through linkers. The company's proprietary ADC linker platform, AraLinQ™, has produced highly uniform, stable, and potent ADC candidates that have demonstrated improved safety and enhanced anti-tumour effects in preclinical studies.
Araris is currently advancing three ADC candidates for the treatment of haematological and solid tumours, with clinical trials expected to begin between 2025 and 2026.
Taiho Pharmaceutical has a strong presence in oncology and has developed novel therapies through its proprietary small molecule drug discovery platform, Cysteinomix.
The acquisition of Araris' ADC drug discovery technology is expected to strengthen Taiho Pharmaceutical's oncology portfolio and enhance its capabilities in innovative drug development.
Source: globenewswire.com
