Ono Pharma Enters into a Drug Discovery Partnership with Mediar Therapeutics to Create Novel Antibody Therapeutics for Fibro-inflammatory Diseases

• Commencing a drug discovery partnership to create novel antibody therapeutics for fibro-inflammatory diseases with high unmet medical need
• Leveraging Mediar’s expertise in antibody discovery and deep understanding of fibrotic biology to explore immune-mediated mechanisms relevant to autoimmune pathology
• Obtaining exclusive worldwide option rights to develop, manufacture and commercialize antibody drug candidates created through the partnership

OSAKA, Japan & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President and COO: Toichi Takino; “Ono”) announced today that it has entered into a drug discovery partnership and option agreement with Mediar Therapeutics, Inc. (Headquarters: Boston, Massachusetts, USA; CEO: Rahul Ballal, PhD; “Mediar”), a clinical-stage biotechnology company specializing in fibrosis drug discovery, to create novel antibody therapeutics for fibro-inflammatory diseases.

Under the terms of the agreement, Ono and Mediar will collaborate to discover and create antibody drug candidates against fibro-inflammatory diseases. Mediar will conduct research activities leveraging its antibody discovery capabilities and biological insights derived from its fibrosis-focused research platform. Ono will have an exclusive worldwide option right to select antibody drug candidates created through the partnership for further development, manufacturing and commercialization.

Ono Venture Investment, Inc., Ono’s corporate venture capital arm, participated as a member of the investor syndicate in Mediar’s seed extension financing round, which was completed in March 2021, and has since built a strong collaborative relationship with the company.

Ono is committed to reinforcing its R&D pipeline in the areas with high unmet medical needs, including immunology and inflammation. Through this partnership, Ono aims to accelerate the creation of innovative biologics and deliver new treatment options for patients suffering from fibro-inflammatory diseases.

“Fibro-inflammatory diseases remain areas of significant unmet medical need, and we believe biologics innovation is essential to provide meaningful therapeutic advances,” said Seishi Katsumata, Corporate Officer / Executive Vice President, Discovery & Research of Ono. “Mediar has established deep scientific expertise in fibrosis and antibody discovery. By combining Mediar’s capabilities with Ono’s experience in immunology and inflammation research area, we aim to create novel antibody therapeutics that may offer new treatment options for patients.”

“This strategic collaboration with Ono is an important milestone for Mediar and reflects the growing recognition that directly targeting the myofibroblast can unlock new therapeutic possibilities in fibrotic diseases,” said Rahul Ballal, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Mediar. “By using our expertise in antifibrotics discovery, we are positioned to advance new potential therapies across a broad range of diseases.”

About Mediar Therapeutics

Mediar Therapeutics is pioneering a new approach to fibrosis treatment that halts the disease at a different source – the myofibroblast, the key pathogenic cell in fibrosis that drives scarring, disease progression, and ultimately organ failure. Mediar was founded based on a deep understanding of the complex science underlying fibrosis onset and progression. By combining novel targets with reliable, easily detectable blood biomarkers and familiar modalities, Mediar is derisking the path forward for fibrosis therapies in clinical development. For more information, contact [e-mail] or follow us on LinkedIn.

About Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. delivers innovative medicines for patients worldwide. Upholding its philosophy of “Dedicated to the Fight against Disease and Pain,” Ono targets areas with unmet medical needs including oncology, immunology & inflammation, and neurology, and fosters partnerships with academic and biotech organizations to accelerate drug discovery. Through its affiliate, Deciphera Pharmaceuticals, Ono is accelerating clinical development and commercial operations in the US and Europe to drive global business expansion and further its commitment to patient care. For more information, please visit the company's website at https://www.ono-pharma.com/en.