AriBio gets exclusive marketing rights in China for Alzheimer’s candidate AR1001 in $770m deal

In a significant stride towards addressing early Alzheimer’s disease, AriBio Co., Ltd. (AriBio) has announced an exclusive agreement to market AR1001, a pioneering investigational drug, in China. The deal, potentially worth up to $770 million USD, marks a critical milestone in the global fight against Alzheimer’s disease, particularly targeting the growing patient population in China. This comprehensive agreement includes a non-refundable upfront payment of 120 billion KRW (approximately 90 million USD), with the total deal value reaching 5.59 billion RMB (approximately 770 million USD), inclusive of milestone payments and additional royalties, set to commence from mid-2024.

The increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in China has urged leading pharmaceutical entities to explore and develop safe, effective oral treatments. AriBio’s collaboration with undisclosed partners for the exclusive marketing rights in China underscores the intense competition and strategic maneuvers within the Alzheimer’s drug market. This partnership, building upon AriBio’s previous alliance with Samjin Pharmaceutical in South Korea for 100 billion KRW, elevates the total collaboration value to 1.12 trillion KRW (approximately 840 million USD).

AriBio is currently advancing the global Phase 3 clinical trial for AR1001, known as Polaris-AD, across the United States, United Kingdom, and South Korea, with plans for expansion into China and the European Union pending regulatory approvals. This extensive study spans 180 global sites, emphasizing the comprehensive and international effort to combat Alzheimer’s disease through innovative therapeutic options.

Matthew (Jai Jun) Choung, CEO and Chairman of AriBio, expressed his optimism about the deal, stating, “This deal demonstrates our unwavering commitment to developing meaningful treatments for Alzheimer’s disease, and our partners will help position AR1001 for success in the major Asian territories.”

AR1001, a PDE5 inhibitor, is being developed as an investigational oral agent for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Its mechanism of action involves neuroprotection through the inhibition of neuron apoptosis and restoration of synaptic plasticity. Additionally, AR1001 has shown promise in reducing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s pathology, in both pre-clinical models and a Phase 2 trial.

The Phase 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, AR1001-ADP3-US01 (NCT05531526), aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of AR1001 over 52 weeks in participants with early Alzheimer’s disease. This pivotal study seeks to assess AR1001’s ability to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease through various cognitive and functional assessments.

This landmark agreement not only underscores AriBio’s commitment to addressing Alzheimer’s disease but also highlights the potential of AR1001 as a pivotal addition to the Alzheimer’s treatment landscape. As the global community continues to seek effective treatments for this devastating disease, the development and strategic marketing of AR1001 in key territories such as China represent a hopeful step forward.