By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : February 26, 2026 10:20 am
Asahi Kasei Pharma receives worldwide exclusive rights for the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of the active ingredients
Asahi Kasei Pharma has strengthened its drug development pipeline through an exclusive global licensing agreement with Alchemedicine, a company specializing in small molecule drug discovery. The licensing agreement for novel single-target lead structures was signed on February 3, 2026, and follows the recent announcement the company to advance the selective endothelin A receptor antagonist (ETA) AK1960 into a Phase I study.
Under the agreement, Asahi Kasei Pharma receives worldwide exclusive rights for the research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of the active ingredients, which are currently in the preclinical phase. The active ingredients were identified using Alchemedicine's HiSAP drug discovery platform and are expected to have therapeutic potential for various autoimmune diseases. The specific indications will be determined by Asahi Kasei Pharma during the course of development. This agreement is the second licensing agreement between the two companies, following an initial agreement in June 2022. The new collaboration is independent of the previous agreement and reflects a deepened partnership, strategic alignment, and proven success.
Dr. Kazunobu Konishi, Senior General Manager of the Pharmaceutical Research Center at Asahi Kasei Pharma, commented: “By combining Alchemedicine’s differentiated drug discovery technology with our expertise in drug development, we aim to develop a promising therapeutic drug candidate through open innovation, addressing unmet medical needs.” Yoshikazu Aoki, President of Asahi Kasei Pharma, added: “By strengthening our research capabilities through open innovation, we are actively working towards achieving $3 billion in pharmaceutical sales by 2030. We will continue to pursue partnerships that generate innovative medicines and promote sustainable growth.”