Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Hong Kong) Limited
- Chugai and Alebund enter into an option and license agreement regarding EOS789, an investigational drug for hyperphosphatemia, discovered by Chugai
- If Alebund decides to exercise the option, Chugai will grant to Alebund an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize EOS789 worldwide including Japan
TOKYO, JAPAN and SHANGHAI, CHINA, July 9, 2021 — Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) and Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Hong Kong) Limited, announced that they have entered into an option and license agreement regarding Chugai’s EOS789, an investigational agent under development for hyperphosphatemia.
EOS789 is an oral inhibitor of phosphate transporters, NaPi-IIb, PiT-1, PiT-2, which was discovered by Chugai and studied in Phase I clinical trial. After entering into the agreement, Alebund plans to conduct an early stage efficacy clinical trial to further evaluate EOS789. If Alebund exercises the option, Chugai will grant Alebund an exclusive license to develop, manufacture, and commercialize EOS789 for all indications worldwide including Japan.
“We are delighted to conclude an option and license agreement for EOS789 with Alebund, given their expertise in renal diseases and drug development experience with hyperphosphatemia,” said Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai’s President and CEO. “EOS789 is designed to suppress absorption of phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract by inhibiting multiple phosphate transporters and to reduce concentration of phosphate in the blood. I hope that the collaboration with Alebund will lead to prove the concept of EOS789 and to accelerate its development, making this potential treatment available for patients as soon as possible.”
Dr. Gavin Xia, Co-Founder and CEO of Alebund, said, “Hyperphosphatemia is a significant problem in dialysis patients and many of them cannot adequately maintain serum phosphate level despite current treatment. Alebund has been developing a new generation of phosphate binder with lower daily dose and better GI compliance than current standard-of-care. EOS789, through a unique mechanism to treat hyperphosphatemia, provides a novel approach to address this serious indication. The addition of EOS789 to our existing pipeline will provide a total solution and more comprehensive offering for dialysis patients with hyperphosphatemia.”
Chugai will receive an upfront payment for this agreement. In addition, if Alebund exercises the above option, Chugai will receive a payment, as well as milestone payments based on achievement of certain predetermined milestones, and royalty payment after successful launch as an approved pharmaceutical product.
About Hyperphosphatemia
Hyperphosphatemia is a disease with elevated serum phosphate concentration and commonly observed in chronic kidney disease. Continued high levels of phosphate in the blood induce vascular calcification and increase the risk of myocardial and cerebral infarction. In addition, corresponding increases in parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion and bone resorption often result in decreased bone strength.
About Chugai
Chugai Pharmaceutical is one of Japan’s leading research-based pharmaceutical companies with strengths in biotechnology products. Chugai, based in Tokyo, specializes in prescription pharmaceuticals and is listed on the 1st section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. As an important member of the Roche Group, Chugai is actively involved in R&D activities in Japan and abroad. Specifically, Chugai is working to develop innovative products which may satisfy the unmet medical needs.
About Alebund
Alebund was founded in Shanghai in early 2018, incubated by a group of industry leaders in the field of nephrology. Alebund is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company and is dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapies and to providing better clinical solutions to patients with kidney diseases and related chronic conditions. Alebund has built a diversified and balanced pipeline of drug candidates targeting a range of renal diseases, including chronic kidney disease (CKD)/dialysis complications, IgA nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Alebund’s pipeline comprises both small-molecule and biologic assets.
Chugai Contacts:
Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Corporate Communications Dept.
Media Relations Group
+81-3-3273-0881
pr@chugai-pharm.co.jp
Investor Relations Group
+81-3-3273-0554
ir@chugai-pharm.co.jp
Alebund Contacts:
Alebund Pharmaceuticals (Hong Kong) Limited
External Communication Department
+86-21-60836212
communication@alebund.com
Release from Chugai: [Japanese] [English]
日本中外制药（Chugai）与礼邦医药（Alebund）就 EOS789 开发用于高磷血症治疗达成期权/授权协议
- 中外制药与礼邦医药就一种早期由日本中外制药（Chugai）研发的用于高磷血症治疗的试验性药物 EOS789 达成期权与授权协议
- 如果礼邦医药决定行使开发权，中外制药将授予礼邦医药在全球范围内开发、生产、商业化 EOS789 的排他性权益
（日本东京，中国上海，2021 年 7 月 9 日）中外制药株式会社（日本东京：4519）与礼邦医药（香港）有限公司宣布，就中外制药试验性药物 EOS789 开发用于高磷血症治疗达成期权与授权协议。
EOS789 是一种口服的磷转运蛋白 NaPi-IIb /PiT-1/PiT-2 抑制剂，由日本中外制药发现，并完成临床 I 期试验。协议达成后，礼邦医药计划开展早期疗效临床试验，进一步评估 EOS789 的药效及安全性。如果礼邦行使开发权，中外制药将授予礼邦医药在全球范围内（包括日本）开发、生产、商业化 EOS789 全适应症的排他性权益。
中外制药社长兼首席执行官奥田修博士表示：“鉴于礼邦医药在肾脏疾病的专业知识和高磷血症药物开发方面的经验，我们很高兴与礼邦医药就 EOS789 达成期权与授权协议。EOS789 通过抑制多种磷转运蛋白来减少胃肠道对磷的吸收，从而降低血磷水平。我希望与礼邦医药的合作有助于验证 EOS789 机制，加速开发，尽快为患者提供这种潜在的疗法。”
礼邦医药联合创始人兼首席执行官夏国尧博士表示：“高磷血症是血液透析患者常见的严重并发症，有许多患者通过现有治疗仍无法控制血清磷水平在目标范围。礼邦医药正在开发新一代磷结合剂，与现有标准疗法相比，其每日剂量更低，且肠胃道副作用更小。而基于其独特的降磷机制，EOS789 提供了一种治疗高磷血症的全新手段。将 EOS789 引入我们现有研发管线，会为血液透析伴高磷血症患者提供更为完整及全面的临床解决方案。”
根据协议，中外制药将收到一笔首付款。此外，如果礼邦医药行使后续开发权，中外制药将收到后续付款，同时根据事先约定的阶段，在达到时收取里程碑付款。EOS789 药品成功获批上市后，中外制药也将收取相应的权利金。
关于高磷血症
高磷血症是一种常见于慢性肾脏病患者表现为血清磷浓度增高的疾病。长期血磷水平增高将引起血管钙化，增加心肌梗死和脑梗死风险。此外，高磷血症会增加甲状旁腺激素分泌及骨重吸收的相应增加 ，常常导致骨强度降低。
关于中外制药
中外制药是日本领先的研究型制药企业，在生物技术产品方面具有优势。位于东京的中外制药专注于处方药物，在东京证券交易所第一部上市。作为罗氏集团的重要成员，中外制药积极参与日本国内外研究开发工作，目前专门开发针对未满足医疗需求的创新型药品。
关于礼邦医药
2018 年初，礼邦医药由最顶尖的肾脏病领域行业领导者孵化于中国上海，目前是一家处于临床阶段的生物制药公司，主要致力于肾脏病以及其他相关慢性疾病的创新药物发现和开发，为慢性肾脏病及相关疾病患者提供更佳临床治疗方案。礼邦医药已经建立起了丰富且均衡的肾脏病新药产品管线，包括针对慢性肾病（CKD）/透析并发症、IgA 肾病、糖尿病肾病、常染色体显性多囊肾病（ADPKD）等产品，公司在研产品包括小分子药物和生物制剂。