Chugai Expands Oncology Alliance With Araris To Develop Next-Generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Chugai Pharmaceutical and Araris Biotech have expanded their existing research collaboration following Chugai's exercise of its licensing option for Araris’ proprietary AraLinQ linker-payload technology. The agreement allows Chugai to apply the platform to develop a new antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) targeting a target of its choice, strengthening its oncology pipeline and antibody-engineering strategy. 

“Araris' innovative AraLinQ® technology is expected to deliver therapeutic effects in a tumor-selective manner by efficiently conjugating multiple anticancer payloads to a single antibody. By combining this technology with our core strength in antibody engineering, we aim to create innovative cancer therapeutics with enhanced efficacy and safety,” said Dr. Osamu Okuda, President and CEO of Chugai.

Under the exercised option, Araris will receive an upfront payment and is eligible for future milestone-based compensation and royalties if products reach the market. Across the full scope of the research collaboration and option agreement, the partnership could be worth up to approximately USD 780 million, assuming all options are taken and development milestones are achieved.

"We are very pleased that Chugai has elected to exercise its option to license our AraLinQ® technology for the development of next-generation ADCs with enhanced efficacy and tolerability. We are proud of the scientific progress achieved through this collaboration to date and look forward to seeing this program advance toward the clinic” said Dr. Dragan Grabulovski, CEO of Araris.

Tokyo-based Chugai, a member of the Roche Group, is known for its in-house antibody technologies and focus on innovative medicines addressing unmet clinical needs. Araris, a subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical, specializes in next-generation ADC design and aims to redefine targeted cancer therapy by reducing reliance on conventional chemotherapy.

Dr. Filippo Mulinacci, CBO of Araris, stated: “Chugai’s decision to license AraLinQ® technology represents a significant milestone for Araris. It further validates the scientific progress achieved by our team and reinforces Araris’ positioning as a partner of choice for the development of highly differentiated, multi-payload ADCs with antibody-like pharmacokinetics and exceptional linker stability.”

Araris’ AraLinQ platform enables the attachment of multiple synergistic cancer-killing payloads to a single antibody through a streamlined process, potentially improving both safety and effectiveness. The technology is intended to create a new class of highly targeted “smart missiles” that could overcome tumor resistance while delivering combination-like potency directly to cancer cells.