4D Molecular Transfers Asia‑Pacific Gene‑Therapy Rights to Otsuka for $85 M Cash

4D Molecular Therapeutics (4DMT) sold the Asia‑Pacific rights to its eye‑gene therapy 4D‑150 to Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The transaction yielded an upfront USD 85 million cash payment, earmarked for the therapy’s Phase‑III development. In a reciprocal licensing arrangement, Otsuka will seek to develop and commercialise 4D‑150 for retinal vascular diseases—wet age‑related macular degeneration (wet AMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME)—across Japan, China, Australia, and the broader Asia‑Pacific region.

Deal Terms & Milestone Expectations

Should 4D‑150 clear regulatory milestones and achieve commercial launch, Otsuka could unlock the full milestone package and ongoing royalties that reflect the therapy’s potential to disrupt the market.

4D‑150: A Sustained‑Release Anti‑VEGF Gene Vaccine

4D‑150 encodes aflibercept and a VEGF‑C‑inhibiting sequence, delivering sustained anti‑VEGF activity while obviating frequent intravitreal injections. The platform leverages viral vector technology to provide a long‑lasting therapeutic effect, addressing a key unmet need in chronic retinal disease management.

Supporting Data

• Phase II (60 weeks) results disclosed three months prior to the deal: patients receiving the Phase‑III dose of 4D‑150 experienced a 78 % reduction in supplemental injections versus the projected on‑label aflibercept 2 mg regimen.

These data bolster confidence in 4D‑150’s clinical efficacy, underpinning the $85 million upfront valuation.

Strategic Rationale

• 4DMT secures the capital and APAC partnership needed to accelerate its Phase‑III programme.
• Otsuka expands its ophthalmology pipeline with a compelling, non‑injection gene‑therapy candidate that could tap into high‑growth markets in Asia‑Pacific.

The transaction exemplifies a growing trend where early‑stage biotech entities partner with regional manufacturers to leverage local expertise and secure development funding.-Fineline Info & Tech