Pharmaceutical company RemeGen has entered into a licensing agreement with Santen Ink for the development and commercialization of the drug RC28-E.
RemeGen and Santen Collaborate to Advance Ophthalmology
RemeGen, a Chinese biotechnology company, and Santen, a leading ophthalmology company based in Japan, have announced a collaboration aimed at global-to-local synergy. The partnership focuses on RC28-E, a VEGF/FGF dual-target fusion protein drug for ocular neovascular diseases, independently developed by RemeGen.
Under the terms of the agreement, Santen will receive exclusive rights to develop, manufacture, and commercialize RC28-E in specified regions including Greater China, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. RemeGen, however, will retain global exclusive rights to RC28-E outside these regions.
The collaboration is expected to provide a new therapeutic approach for fundus diseases by simultaneously targeting angiogenesis and fibrosis. Takeshi Ito, President & CEO of Santen, has commented on the collaboration, expressing his view that RC28-E is a flagship pipeline in ophthalmology with differentiated advantages.
The Phase II clinical trial results of RC28-E for diabetic macular edema (DME) were presented in May 2025. The study demonstrated that RC28-E significantly improved best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and reduced central subfield thickness (CST), and was well tolerated in patients with DME.
RemeGen is set to receive an upfront payment of RMB 250 million, development and regulatory milestone payments of up to RMB 520 million, and sales milestone payments of up to RMB 525 million. The company also plans to submit a Biologics License Application (BLA) for the DME indication in China in the second half of 2025.
In addition, RemeGen will be entitled to tiered royalties based on net sales of the product in the licensed territories. Santen, on the other hand, is committed to strengthening cooperation and collaboration with partners.
The partnership between RemeGen and Santen is a significant step towards advancing the development of ophthalmology. Santen aims to advance high-quality development in ophthalmology, uncover and address unmet patient needs, and realize 'Happiness with Vision' for all.
