HUYA Grants an Exclusive License to Eisai

HUYA Bioscience International (HUYA) President, CEO, Executive Chairman & Founder Dr. Mireille Gillings announced that Eisai Co., Ltd. has acquired from HUYA an exclusive license agreement for HBI-8000 in Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Singapore.

HBI-8000 is the first approved oral class I-selective histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, which is now in various stage of development globally for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) in Japan and solid tumors including Immuno-Oncology in the United States. The product was recently granted orphan drug designation by Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare based on the estimated size of the Japanese PTCL patient population, existing data as well as the clinical development plan for Japan.

HUYA will complete the development of HBI-8000 for NHL in Japan for commercialization by Eisai who will hold exclusive rights to develop future indications such as solid tumors in the licensed territory. Eisai will pay HUYA an upfront and milestones up to $280M plus royalties on net sales. HUYA will manufacture and supply the product to Eisai for commercialization and other future development.

“This collaboration aligns with Eisai’s drive to contribute to patients in our focused field of oncology. Eisai and HUYA will cooperate to develop and commercialize this HDAC inhibitor which we hope to deliver to the market as a treatment that will fulfill the diverse needs of, and bring about benefits for, patients with cancer and their families” said Mr. Terushige Iike, Chief Product Creation Officer of Eisai Product Creation Systems.

“We are delighted to enter into this partnership with Eisai. Our excitement about HBI-8000 increases almost daily, particularly as we are also demonstrating important immunological properties for this oral product with exemplary safety. Patients with both liquid and solid tumors will benefit as our precision medicine team develops 8000 to its full potential” said Dr. Mireille Gillings, President, CEO & Executive Chairman of HUYA. “The license reinforces our vision of leveraging clinical data generated within Asia using the Tripartite Cooperation Treaty to expand into other countries such as Japan and Korea. Eisai’s global strength in oncology will help ensure the drug’s path to regulatory approval.”