Araris Announces Collaborations with Chugai Pharmaceuticals
Deal News | Jan 08, 2025 | 4BIO Ventures Management Ltd
4BIO Capital, a prominent venture capital firm focusing on cutting-edge therapies, announced a significant collaboration between its portfolio company, Araris Biotech AG, and Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. This Research Collaboration and Option to License Agreement entails Araris utilizing its proprietary AraLinQ linker-conjugation platform to produce novel antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) using Chugai's antibodies against undisclosed targets. Araris will receive an upfront payment, with potential milestone payments totaling $780 million, and royalties on product sales following successful development and commercial milestones by Chugai. This partnership underscores Araris's breakthrough technology in overcoming drug resistance, promising advancements in cancer treatment.
Sectors
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Venture Capital
Geography
- Switzerland – Location of Araris Biotech AG, making it relevant due to its operations in developing ADC technologies.
- Japan – Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. is based in Japan, highlighting the international aspect of the collaboration.
- United Kingdom – 4BIO Ventures Management Ltd. is headquartered in the UK, showcasing the geographical spread of companies involved.
Industry
- Biotechnology – The focus is on advanced biotechnology innovations, specifically in developing effective cancer treatments using antibody drug conjugates.
- Pharmaceuticals – Chugai Pharmaceutical Co. is involved, indicating a pharmaceutical industry context with research and development in novel drug creation.
- Venture Capital – 4BIO Capital, a venture capital firm, signifies the investment and support in emerging biotechnologies.
Financials
- 780 million USD – Potential milestone payments to Araris Biotech based on the achievement of certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4BIO Capital | Venture Capital Firm | Company | An international venture capital firm investing in advanced therapies and emerging technologies. |
| Araris Biotech AG | Portfolio Company | Company | A Swiss oncology biotech company developing next-generation antibody drug conjugates (ADCs). |
| Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Collaborating Pharmaceutical Company | Company | A Japanese pharmaceutical company providing antibodies and responsible for manufacturing and commercialization post-research. |
| Dmitry (Dima) Kuzmin | Managing Partner at 4BIO Capital | Person | Provided comments on the significance of the collaboration. |
| Dr Dragan Grabulovski | Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Araris | Person | Shared excitement and expectations for the collaboration with Chugai. |