Otsuka Acquires Cantargia’s CAN10 IL1RAP Antibody Immunology Program
Cantargia AB has announced a landmark agreement with Japanese pharma giant Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., granting Otsuka exclusive global rights to develop and commercialise Cantargia’s CAN10 program, currently in early clinical stages.
As part of the deal, Cantargia will receive an upfront cash payment of USD 33 million upon the transaction’s closing. In addition to this initial payment, the Swedish biotech company is eligible for up to USD 580 million in development, regulatory, and commercial milestone payments. Cantargia will also receive tiered, double-digit earn-out payments based on global sales of products arising from the CAN10 program.
The agreement marks a significant step in Cantargia’s strategic focus, transferring all CAN10-related assets to Otsuka. The transaction remains subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory approvals and is expected to be finalised in the third quarter of 2025.
Otsuka Pharmaceutical will be fully responsible for the development and commercialisation of CAN10 globally. Otsuka Pharmaceutical will direct and perform all future development, apply for regulatory approvals and exclusively carry out manufacturing and sales of the product worldwide. In addition to the CAN10 antibody, Otsuka Pharmaceutical acquires 3G5, a pre-clinical IL1RAP targeting antibody which is similar to CAN10, as a backup antibody and will also have exclusive first rights of negotiation regarding the next-generation IL-1RAP antibodies to be developed by Cantargia for a period of 2 years.
CAN10 is an antibody against IL1RAP designed to potently inhibit the activity of the pro-inflammatory and disease promoting cytokines of the IL-1-super family: IL-1, IL-33 and IL-36. CAN10 is currently being evaluated in an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial.
Cantargia’s Interim Chief Executive Officer Damian Marron said:
“This is a transformative transaction for Cantargia, and we hope for millions of patients suffering from severe immune inflammatory disorders. We are delighted that the strong potential of our CAN10 anti-IL1RAP antibody has been recognised by Otsuka Pharmaceutical. It demonstrates confidence in the strength of our world leading position in IL1RAP biology and antibodies and will allow us to drive forward our platforms and programs in oncology and other diseases.”
Makoto Inoue, President and Representative Director of Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., commented:
“Otsuka Pharmaceutical is expanding its research and development pipeline in the field of autoimmune diseases by leveraging the antibody drug platform of our U.S. subsidiary, Visterra, and the low-molecular-weight drug discovery platform of our U.S. subsidiary Jnana Therapeutics. This will further expand and accelerate our research and development portfolio targeting various pathways associated with autoimmune diseases, enabling us to contribute to the lives of more patients.”
About the CAN10 Antibody
The CAN10 antibody binds strongly to its target IL1RAP and has a unique capability to simultaneously inhibit signaling of the cytokines of the IL1-super family via IL-1, IL-33 and IL-36. Inhibition of these signals can be of significant value in the treatment of several inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. In preclinical in vivo models of inflammatory diseases, such as systemic sclerosis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, atherosclerosis, myocarditis and peritonitis, a CAN10 surrogate antibody significantly reduced the development of the disease. A clinical phase 1 study, investigating CAN10 in healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients, is ongoing.
About Cantargia
Cantargia AB (publ), reg. no. 556791-6019, is a biotechnology company that develops antibody-based treatments for life-threatening diseases and has established a platform based on the protein IL1RAP, involved in a number of cancer forms and inflammatory diseases. Cantargia’s oncology program, the antibody nadunolimab (CAN04), is being studied clinically, primarily in combination with chemotherapy with a focus on pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. Positive data for the combinations indicate stronger efficacy than would be expected from chemotherapy alone. Cantargia’s second development program, the antibody CAN10, blocks signaling via IL1RAP in a different manner than nadunolimab and addresses treatment of serious autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, with initial focus on hidradenitis suppurativa and systemic sclerosis.
Cantargia is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (ticker: CANTA). More information about Cantargia is available at www.cantargia.com.
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