Japan’s pharmaceutical group Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd (TYO: 4151) has announced a significant restructuring of its business strategy in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. The company is exiting the China market by selling its operations and out-licensing its portfolio commercialization in other APAC territories to partner companies, retaining rights to only a select few core global brands. This strategic shift also extends to Kyowa Kirin’s research and development (R&D), with a pivot from small-molecule research to antibodies and hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (HSC-GT).
China Operations to Winhealth
Kyowa Kirin will close down its China operations, transferring its portfolio, including five established brands, to a special-purpose company. The equity will then be transferred to Hong Kong-based Winhealth Pharma Group Co., Ltd for a deal valued at RMB 720 million (approximately USD 100 million). Alongside this, commercial rights for Kyowa Kirin’s global products Crysvita (burosumab) and Poteligeo (mogamulizumab) in China will also be handed to WinHealth.
APAC Rights to DKSH
Kyowa Kirin is also transferring commercial rights for its established products in Hong Kong/Macau, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand to DKSH Holding Ltd. The specifics of the DKSH license deal remain undisclosed, marking a significant divestment of Kyowa Kirin’s APAC operations.
R&D Overhaul
In a separate announcement, Kyowa Kirin revealed plans to concentrate its R&D on bone and mineral, hematologic cancers/intractable hematologic diseases, and rare diseases, focusing on advanced antibody technologies and HSC-GTs. The company will phase out in-house small molecule drug discovery research activities, along with related manufacturing and CMC research and quality-related activities, initiating a voluntary retirement program for affected employees.- Flcube.com
