Japan-based Sumitomo Pharma Co., Ltd has signed a sub-license deal with compatriot firm Kyorin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd, focusing on the over-active bladder (OAB) therapy Gemtesa (vibegron). This strategic agreement grants Sumitomo development, manufacturing, and commercialization rights to vibegron in key Asian markets, including Taiwan and Hong Kong in China, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Kyorin will receive undisclosed upfront, development, and sales milestone payments, as well as royalties on future sales.
About Vibegron
Vibegron is a β3-adrenergic receptor agonist originally discovered by US-based Merck, Sharp & Dohme Inc (MSD). The drug is designed for once-daily use, acting on β3 receptors in the bladder to increase capacity by enhancing the bladder-relaxing effect of noradrenaline during the urinary storage phase. This mechanism results in the improvement of OAB symptoms, offering patients a more manageable treatment option.
Market and Development History
Kyorin acquired the rights to develop the drug in Japan and Asia in 2014 and was the first to secure a global approval for the drug in Japan in 2018. Sumitomo previously expanded its reach in the region by acquiring rights to develop vibegron in China through a 2021 deal with China-based Sinovant Sciences HK Ltd, a subsidiary of Switzerland-based Roivant Sciences GmbH. Vibegron entered clinical trials in China in 2020 but has not yet been approved. The sub-license deal with Kyorin is therefore complementary to Sumitomo’s existing China rights, further strengthening its position in the Asian market for OAB therapies.-Fineline Info & Tech
