Against a background of the globally strengthening R&D focus on rare diseases, Japan is seeing unusually fierce competition in the relatively small indication of Stargardt disease, a rare ophthalmologic disorder where outstanding medical needs remain high, and helped by potential fast-track regulatory treatment.
Multiple Stargardt Contenders Progress In Japan Despite Small Market
Medical Need, Supportive Regulations
With no approved therapies globally for Stargardt's, competition in the indication is increasing in Japan, where Kubota Vision is seeking for conditional approval for emixustat, while Belite Bio’s contender tinlarebant has received Sakigake designation as a local Phase III program continues.
More from Japan
• By
Kyoto-based venture moves HQ to California to expand R&D and business outreach for its regulatory T-cell technology, as it raises around $46m in public and private funding.
• By
Move to acquire profitable Tokyo-based venture part of Japanese major's strategy of building a broader ecosystem for dementia detection and care.
• By
With two major deals since just the beginning of the year in Japan, private equity groups appear to be ramping up their presence in the country's biopharma sector, amid ongoing activity across the wider APAC region.
• By
Swiss major gains global rights to preclinical asset as it joins race for MRGPRX2 antagonists in urticaria, where some same-class rivals are already in Phase II.
More from Focus On Asia
• By
Lilly’s Mounjaro arrives in India, with the 2.5mg vial priced at under $41 in a market that has over 100 million diabetics and increasing obesity rates. Will the product see sharp demand like in China, carving out a chunk of the pie ahead of the potential arrival of semaglutide generics and could there be concerns of ‘suitcase' exports?
• By
South Korea's LigaChem is kickstarting a growth and globalization drive through a potential future acquisition of UK ADC player IKSUDA.
• By
Professor Anil Koul shares vignettes of his life and career trajectory, a captivating mix of hope, science and destiny that took him to the lab of eminent cancer biologist Alex Ullrich at the Max Planck Institute and also saw him contribute to the development of breakthrough TB drug bedaquiline. He also talks about Medicine 3.0 and the intersection of science and spirituality.