Teijin Pharma Limited, the core company of the Teijin Group’s healthcare business, announced that has entered into an exclusive global licensing agreement with Elevara Medicines Limited, a UK-based biotech company. Under the terms of the agreement, Teijin Pharma grants Elevara exclusive global rights to develop, commercialize and manufacture a rheumatoid arthritis drug candidate originally discovered by Teijin Pharma. In return, Teijin Pharma receives a 10 percent equity stake in Elevara and is entitled to milestone payments totaling approximately $30 million USD, as well as royalties based on future sales.

A drug candidate is a compound that has demonstrated enough potential in preclinical testing to be chosen for further development. The candidate licensed under this agreement is a small-molecule compound that was discovered at Teijin’s Biomedical Research Institute in Hino City, Tokyo. It is code-named TCK-276. By inhibiting activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), this compound is expected to suppress abnormal synovial proliferation (thickening and overgrowth of the joint lining) and prevent cartilage degradation associated with rheumatoid arthritis.

This autoimmune disease, which affects approximately 0.4-0.5 percent of the population is characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane in joints, leading to swelling and pain. In advanced stages, rheumatoid arthritis can cause joint destruction, deformation and functional impairment. Current treatments primarily aim to suppress inflammation.

Teijin Pharma has conducted Phase I clinical trials in the United States that involved both healthy adults and patients with rheumatoid arthritis to evaluate the compound’s tolerability and pharmacological effects.

Elevara Medicines Limited was founded in 2025 with the mission to accelerate the development of innovative therapies in the rheumatoid arthritis field. With its high level of expertise and agility, the company is well positioned to bring TCK-276 to patients worldwide quickly. Teijin Pharma believes this agreement will significantly expand global access to new treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis, and the company will support Elevara’s development of the TCK-276 compound.

Guided by its long-term vision to become “a company that solves challenges faced by patients, families, and communities in need of greater support,” Teijin Pharma focuses on rare and intractable diseases. Leveraging its foundation in home healthcare, the company aims to deliver new value by integrating pharmaceuticals and medical devices, enabling patients to receive safe and continuous treatment in the comfort of their own homes.