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Fosun Pharmaceutical plans to commit up to an additional $240 million in order to secure exclusive rights to a groundbreaking early-stage Alzheimer’s medication developed by South Korea’s AriBio. This expansion covers key markets such as the United States and Europe, complementing rights already obtained in other regions.
A subsidiary of Fosun Pharma entered into an exclusive option agreement with AriBio, paying a $60 million option fee, according to the company’s Shanghai headquarters. The company will determine whether to proceed within 90 days after receiving comprehensive topline data from the drug’s global Phase III POLARIS-AD clinical trials.
If the option is exercised, Fosun Pharma will acquire development, registration, manufacturing, and commercialization rights for AR1001 (mirodenafil) in specified territories, becoming the marketing authorization holder in those areas.
This newly announced agreement follows last year’s deal securing exclusive rights to AR1001 across mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, and ten Southeast Asian nations. It highlights Fosun’s growing confidence in the drug’s potential for launch and commercial success.
AR1001 is a potent, selective phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor, an oral small molecule designed to slow Alzheimer’s progression. Phase III trials have shown it can cross the blood-brain barrier, with promising effects for patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia linked to early Alzheimer’s.
The current agreement involves major markets, including the U.S., Japan, most European nations, Canada, and Australia. However, it excludes 22 countries like South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, and several Middle Eastern and North African nations.
AriBio, based in Seongnam, South Korea, will receive an $80 million upfront payment along with potential milestone payments up to $100 million, contingent on regulatory approvals and market launches in the licensed territories. Additionally, Fosun will pay AriBio a low double-digit percentage of annual net sales in each market for 15 years following the product launch.
Fosun’s stock closed slightly lower today, with shares down 1.9% to CNY 24.50 (about $3.61) in Shanghai, and a 0.9% decrease to HKD 18.46 (approximately $2.36) on the Hong Kong exchange. The Shanghai Composite Index fell 1.5%, while the Hang Seng Index remained flat.
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