Sumitomo In Cell Therapy Pivot With New JV, US Sales Push

Response To Ongoing Business Challenges?

The struggling Japanese pharma group is aiming to grow its new cell therapy business in the US and Japan to $2.3bn by the late 2030s.

(Shutterstock)

After years of financial struggles related to its mainstay product’s loss of exclusivity and multiple failures of R&D projects, Sumitomo Pharma is further pivoting toward its allogeneic induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) therapy business with a new joint venture.

RACTHERA was established in November in Tokyo with JPY1m ($6,400) in capital from the Japanese firm and its parent Sumitomo Chemical and will start operations on 1 February 2025.

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Cell Therapies

Senti’s Computer-Logic Inspired Cell Therapy Shows Early Promise

 

The biotech believes its logic-gated cell therapies can get round the need for ‘clean targets’ which limit CAR-Ts and ADCs.

Strong Data For CARsgen’s CAR-T In Late-Line Gastric Cancer

 

In first confirmatory randomized controlled trial of any CAR-T therapy in solid tumors, CARsgen’s Claudin 18.2-targeting satri-cel reduced risk of death or disease progression by 63% in Chinese patients with gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer.

Which Firms Are Most Exposed To Prasad’s Possible Accelerated Approvals Clampdown?

 

Vaccine and accelerated approvals are expected to face greater scrutiny under new CBER leader Vinay Prasad, but he has promised “no light switch change” to policy, giving some reassurance to companies whose share prices have been battered.

Atara Does An About Face As FDA Lifts Ebvallo Hold

 

The biotech said it will have a type A meeting with the agency to resubmit for the cell therapy’s approval in EBV+ PTLD.

More from Focus On Asia

Ascentage Broadens Horizons As Pipeline Shows Renewed Promise

 
• By 

Ascentage will share at ASCO new clinical data on its Bcl-2 inhibitor lisaftoclax, part of the Chinese firm's novel pipeline, on which its CEO shared with Scrip plans and strategy, along with some views on the use of RWD in China.

Tech Convergence, Quality Data Needed To Accelerate Korea’s AI-Powered R&D

 
• By 

AI-powered drug development was a major topic at the recent Bio Korea meeting, where experts discussed how the technology is changing R&D activities and the challenges being faced by Korean firms as they look to catch up with their global competitors.

Strong Data For CARsgen’s CAR-T In Late-Line Gastric Cancer

 

In first confirmatory randomized controlled trial of any CAR-T therapy in solid tumors, CARsgen’s Claudin 18.2-targeting satri-cel reduced risk of death or disease progression by 63% in Chinese patients with gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer.