Biohaven has struck a strategic licensing and collaboration agreement with Japan’s Ono Pharmaceutical Co worth up to $100 million in near-term payments, expanding the Asian market reach of its experimental drugs targeting autoimmune diseases.

 

Under the agreement, Ono will secure exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Biohaven’s MoDE pan-IgG degrader portfolio in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. The portfolio is led by BHV-1300 and includes next-generation candidates BHV-1310 and BHV-1320.

 

The deal marks Biohaven’s first regional collaboration for an extracellular protein degrader developed from its drug discovery platform, which originated in research at Yale University and has since been advanced into clinical development by the company.

 

BHV-1300, an investigational small-molecule IgG degrader, is currently in Phase 3 development for Graves’ disease. The drug also has the potential to address a broader range of IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases.

 

Vlad Coric, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Biohaven, said, "Ono will be the ideal partner to bring this innovative immune-modulating technology to patients across Japan and key Asian markets. This is the first regional collaboration for an extracellular protein degrader, and it validates a platform that began with pioneering chemistry from the Spiegel Lab at Yale University and now spans a broad and diverse portfolio of MoDE and TRAP degraders. 

 

"Few companies in the world can match Ono's innovation in drug development or its demonstrated ability to translate breakthrough science into transformative therapies, as it did in helping to define modern cancer immunotherapy. We are excited for an outstanding collaboration to accelerate new therapeutics to patients."

 

Under the financial terms of the agreement, Biohaven will receive $80 million upon closing, followed by an additional $20 million upon achievement of a milestone anticipated within a year. The company is also eligible to receive royalties of approximately 20% on net sales across the licensed territories.

 

Biohaven will retain all rights to its MoDE IgG degrader portfolio outside the agreement’s geographic scope, including the United States, Europe and China, preserving its opportunity to pursue further development and commercialization partnerships in major global markets.

 

For Ono, the agreement strengthens its pipeline in immunology and inflammation, a key strategic focus for the Japanese pharmaceutical company.

 

Toichi Takino, President and COO of Ono, said, " Biohaven has a strong track record of developing innovative therapeutics leveraging its proprietary drug discovery platforms. Through this collaboration, we aim to strengthen our late-stage pipeline in the immunology and inflammation field, one of Ono's key focus areas. 

 

"We look forward to working with Biohaven to advance the development program with the goal of providing a new therapeutic to patients with Graves' disease in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN countries and to maximize the value of this treatment."

 

The collaboration combines Biohaven’s drug discovery capabilities with Ono’s regional development and commercialization expertise, positioning the companies to advance the investigational treatments across key Asian pharmaceutical markets.

 

Tova Gardin, Chief Translational Officer of Biohaven, said, "Pairing BHV-1300 with Ono's regional development and commercial excellence gives this portfolio its strongest and fastest path to patients in two of the world's most important pharmaceutical markets, while securing meaningful non-dilutive capital and retaining substantial long-term upside for our shareholders."

 

The agreement gives Biohaven an immediate financial boost while establishing a regional commercial pathway for its next-generation IgG degraders. For Ono, it offers access to a novel therapeutic platform as it seeks to expand its immunology and inflammation portfolio, with BHV-1300 leading the effort to develop new treatment options for patients with Graves’ disease.