News
Rakuten Medical teams up with LOTTE Biologics to boost production of innovative cancer therapy
LOTTE Biologics will provide advanced manufacturing services for monoclonal antibody intermediates and their conjugates
- By IPP Bureau
| January 17, 2026
Rakuten Medical and LOTTE Biologics have announced a strategic biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing agreement at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference, aiming to strengthen production capabilities for Rakuten Medical’s groundbreaking Alluminox platform-based photoimmunotherapy.
Under the deal, LOTTE Biologics will provide advanced manufacturing services for monoclonal antibody intermediates and their conjugates, supporting Rakuten Medical’s global clinical development and future commercialization.
Rakuten Medical’s proprietary photoimmunotherapy selectively targets cells in solid tumors by combining cell-targeting moieties, such as antibodies, with light-activatable agents. This enables the precise destruction of tumor cells upon light exposure.
In Japan, the therapy is approved for recurrent head and neck cancer, and its footprint has expanded steadily, with broader site adoption and sustained year-over-year growth in treatment numbers. Meanwhile, a global Phase 3 clinical trial is underway in the United States, Taiwan, and Japan, with plans to begin treatment in Ukraine and Poland soon.
Rakuten Medical also plans to initiate a Phase 1 trial in Japan this year for other solid tumors beyond head and neck cancer. These clinical and commercial dynamics are driving increased demand for the company’s bioconjugates.
