Taiho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Araris Biotech AG, a Swiss biotechnology company developing next-gen antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), for $400 million at closing, with the potential for additional milestone payments of up to $740 million. The acquisition follows a research collaboration between the companies signed in November 2023.

Araris is a spin-off company of the Paul-Scherrer-Institute in Switzerland and pioneering the development of best-in-class ADCs with superior design, high linker solubility and simple manufacturing that address the shortcomings of current ADCs. 

ADCs are designed to selectively deliver cytotoxic drugs (payloads) to cancer cells by attaching them to antibodies that bind specifically to cancer cells through linkers. Araris’ ADC linker platform AraLinQ has generated highly uniform, stable and potent ADC therapeutic candidates that have demonstrated a wider range of safety and increased antitumor effect compared to conventional ADCs in preclinical studies. 

Araris is advancing three preclinical candidates for the treatment of hematological and solid tumors developed using its AraLinQ technology. These products are anticipated to enter clinical trials between 2025 and 2026.

Taiho has established and created novel drugs through its small molecule drug discovery platform, Cysteinomix, designed to enhance cancer treatment. With the acquisition of Araris’ ADC drug discovery technology platform along with Cysteinomix, Taiho aims to further expand its ongoing development portfolio in the field of oncology.


Masayuki Kobayashi, President and Representative Director of Taiho Pharmaceutical said, “We are pleased to have entered into this agreement with Araris. AraLinQ is an innovative technology that enables next-generation ADC drug discovery. We are confident that the addition of Araris’ knowledge, experience and technology platform in ADC drug discovery, as well as its development pipeline, will lead to further expansion and strengthening of Taiho’s drug discovery capabilities and portfolio. Together with Araris, we will strive to develop innovative drugs that can contribute to patients globally.”

Dragan Grabulovski, CEO and Co-founder of Araris said, “Araris’ unique ADC technology represents a quantum leap for the ADC field, potentially offering precise payload delivery of multiple mechanisms of action simultaneously to the tumor, with less toxicity. We are proud to combine with Taiho, whose significant cancer expertise will support us in turbo-charging the clinical development of our potent ADC candidates in hematological and solid tumors.”

Pending customary closing conditions, the acquisition is expected to be completed in first half of 2025. Araris will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Taiho Pharmaceutical and will continue its business, R&D activities at its current location in Zurich, Switzerland.