Nxera Pharma Achieves Development Milestone in Collaboration with Eli Lilly Targeting Metabolic Diseases
Tokyo, Japan and Cambridge, UK, 2 June 2025 – Nxera Pharma Co., Ltd. ('Nxera' or 'the Company'; TSE 4565) today announces that it has achieved a development milestone under its multi-target collaboration and license agreement with Eli Lilly and Company ('Lilly') targeting diabetes and metabolic diseases, resulting in a payment to Nxera. The payment amount is undisclosed under the agreement with Lilly. However, Nxera makes this announcement in accordance with the timely disclosure requirements as the achievement of the milestone represents significant progress in research and development for Nxera. Nxera expects to receive the milestone payment in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending December 2025.
Nxera and Lilly entered the multi-target collaboration in 2022 to leverage Nxera's GPCR-focused structure-based drug design capabilities and Lilly's extensive development, commercialization and therapeutic area expertise. The achievement of this development milestone validates the use of Nxera's NxWave™ platform to successfully identify small molecule binders to GPCR targets and to solve the structure of the receptor in the presence of the small molecule, thus revealing its binding site. Lilly will now be responsible for further development and commercialization.
Under the terms of the agreement, Nxera is eligible to receive development and commercial milestones totalling up to US$694 million, plus tiered royalties on global sales.
Dr. Matt Barnes, CSO and President of Nxera Pharma UK, commented: 'We're excited to have achieved this important milestone in this collaboration with Lilly, which marks a significant step towards developing novel treatments in these important areas of unmet need across diabetes and metabolic diseases. Our proprietary NxWave™ platform has continuously produced novel molecules for previously intractable targets, and we look forward to seeing further developments from this productive collaboration with Lilly.'
–END–
About Nxera Pharma
Nxera Pharma is a technology powered biopharma company in pursuit of new specialty medicines to improve the lives of patients with unmet needs in Japan and globally.
We have built an agile, new-generation commercial business in Japan to develop and commercialize innovative medicines, including several launched products, to address this high value, large and growing market and those in the broader APAC region.
Behind that, and powered by our unique NxWave™ discovery platform, we are advancing an extensive pipeline of over 30 active programs from discovery through to late clinical stage internally and in partnership with leading pharma and biotech companies. This pipeline of potentially first- and best-in-class candidates is focused on addressing major unmet needs in some of the fastest-growing areas of medicine across neurology/neuropsychiatry, metabolic diseases and immunology and inflammation.
Nxera employs approximately 400 talented people at key locations in Tokyo and Osaka (Japan), London and Cambridge (UK), Basel (Switzerland) and Seoul (South Korea) and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (ticker: 4565).
For more information, please visit www.nxera.life
LinkedIn: @NxeraPharma | X: @NxeraPharma | YouTube: @NxeraPharma
Enquiries:
Nxera – Media and Investor Relations
Shinya Tsuzuki, VP, Head of Investor Relations
Shinichiro Nishishita, VP Investor Relations, Head of Regulatory Disclosures
Maya Bennison, Communications Manager
+81 (0)3 5962 5718 | +44 (0)1223 949390 |[email protected]
MEDiSTRAVA (for International Media)
Mark Swallow, Frazer Hall, Erica Hollingsworth
+44 (0)203 928 6900 | [email protected]
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the discovery, development, and commercialization of products. Various risks may cause Nxera Pharma Group's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward looking statements, including: adverse results in clinical development programs; failure to obtain patent protection for inventions; commercial limitations imposed by patents owned or controlled by third parties; dependence upon strategic alliance partners to develop and commercialize products and services; difficulties or delays in obtaining regulatory approvals to market products and services resulting from development efforts; the requirement for substantial funding to conduct research and development and to expand commercialization activities; and product initiatives by competitors. As a result of these factors, prospective investors are cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Insects turned into chemical reactors, help make high-tech materials from nanocarbons
Researchers at Japan's RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute (PRI) and Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) have transformed insects into living chemical reactors. Led by Kenichiro Itami, the team developed a technique called 'in-insect synthesis' that uses insects to build and modify complex molecules—something that's incredibly difficult with current laboratory methods. This technique could revolutionize how scientists produce nanocarbons—molecules made entirely of carbon atoms. These nanostructures are strong, conductive, and can glow under certain conditions, making them ideal for aerospace, battery technology, and advanced electronics. But they're notoriously hard to manufacture and modify with precision. "Our team has been conducting research on molecular nanocarbons, but along with that, we've also developed molecules that act on mammals and plants,' says Itami. 'Through those experiences, we suddenly wondered — what would happen if we fed nanocarbons to insects?' To test their hypothesis, the researchers turned to a common pest: the tobacco cutworm caterpillar. These insects, often considered a menace in agriculture, have a powerful digestive system built to handle toxic plant compounds and pesticides. Their guts contain enzymes capable of performing complex chemical reactions, which made them ideal candidates for this experiment. The team fed the caterpillars a molecular nanocarbon known as [6]MCPP—a belt-shaped molecule. Just two days later, the caterpillars had digested the compound and produced a new version of it, now called [6]MCPP-oxylene. This new molecule included an oxygen atom, which made it fluorescent. That transformation was no accident. The team ran the caterpillar droppings through a full suite of tests: mass spectrometry, NMR, and X-ray crystallography. These revealed the exact structure of the altered molecule and confirmed that it was a successful chemical conversion. The breakthrough came when molecular biology techniques identified two specific enzymes—CYP X2 and CYP X3—as the catalysts for this transformation. Genetic analysis confirmed their critical role in the reaction. 'It is extremely difficult to reproduce the chemical reactions occurring inside insects in a laboratory setting,' Itami explains. 'Lab-based attempts at this oxidation reaction failed or had very low yields.' Further computer simulations showed how these enzymes manage the reaction. They could bind two [6]MCPP-oxylene molecules and directly insert an oxygen atom into a carbon–carbon bond. This is not just rare—it's never been seen before in this context. It's a type of precision that modern chemistry still struggles to achieve. This novel approach is more than just a quirky lab experiment. It opens a whole new direction in how we create useful materials. 'True to the philosophy of the PRI, this work pioneers a new direction in materials science: making functional molecules using insects,' stated Itami. By using enzymes, microbes, or even entire insects instead of traditional glassware and chemicals, researchers can build complex structures that would otherwise be too expensive or too inefficient to make in the lab. Tools like CRISPR and directed evolution could allow scientists to further optimize this process—essentially programming insects to manufacture new types of molecules for everything from glowing sensors to drug components. And while these caterpillars are typically viewed as villains in agriculture due to their ability to destroy crops and resist pesticides, the study casts them in a completely different light. 'The tobacco cutworm is a notorious agricultural pest because of its rapid life cycle and exceptional ability to metabolize pesticides, earning them a reputation as global villains in the crop protection industry,' says Itami. 'And yet, what we find truly fascinating, is that in our project, these very moths took on an unexpected role—not as adversaries, but as unlikely heroes.' The study was published in the journal Science.
Bloomberg
an hour ago
- Bloomberg
Taiwan's Yageo Plans to Keep Shibaura's AI Technology in Japan
Taiwan's Yageo Corp. said it would keep Shibaura Electronics Co. 's most advanced technology in Japan if it successfully acquires the artificial intelligence sensor maker. The comments from Yageo founder and Chairman Pierre Chen come as Tokyo seeks to strike a balance between shareholder returns while ensuring cutting-edge AI technology stays at home. Shibaura's high-precision thermistors are key for monitoring the internal temperature of electronic devices to prevent overheating. That's especially important in AI, where data centers with large clusters of high-performance servers churn through troves of data.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Curry Brand Signs Chinese Phenom in Global NIL Power Move
Curry Brand Signs Chinese Phenom in Global NIL Power Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In a landmark NIL deal that's already shaking up the global basketball scene, Curry Brandhas officially signed Jacob Zhu, known as Zhu Zheng in China. Zheng represents the brand's first Chinese athlete and second international signee. The 6'2' point guard from the Class of 2026 is more than just a rising star, he's the face of a new generation of global hoopers. Advertisement At just 16, Zhu's resume is already impressive. He's been scouted by top Division I programs like Auburn, Georgia Tech, and UCF, and he's preparing to suit up for China's U19 national team at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup. His game is defined by elite ball-handling, deadly court vision, and a jump shot that demands respect from anywhere on the floor. But this deal is about more than just basketball. It's about culture, connection, and brand power. 'I'm beyond excited to officially join Curry Brand and learn from the greatest point guard of all time, my favorite player growing up,' Zhu said. 'Steph's journey inspired me to believe that being 'undersized' doesn't mean being overlooked.' The NIL agreement gives Zhu access to exclusive footwear and apparel, personalized brand support, and a starring role in off-court initiatives across Asia-Pacific, especially in China's booming basketball market. With Zhu's mixed Chinese and Jamaican heritage and growing stateside reputation, Curry Brand isn't just making a marketing move, it's staking a claim in the future of global basketball. Advertisement 'He embodies many of the qualities we look for in a Curry Brand athlete with his style of play, his work ethic, and his commitment to bringing people together through sport,' said Simon Pestridge, VP of Marketing (APAC) and GM of Under Armour China. Zhu now joins a roster of standout Curry Brand athletes, including Stephen Curry, De'Aaron Fox, and MiLaysia Fulwiley. For NIL fans, this deal is a bold signal: international name, image, and likeness deals are no longer a trend, they're the future. Want to know what's next in global NIL? Keep your eyes on Jacob Zhu. The game is going global and Curry Brand is leading the charge. Related: Michigan Running Back's Groundbreaking NIL Deal Redefines College Football Related: Former Kentucky Great Has Words About NIL: 'I'm Glad I Didn't Play in That Era' This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
