TOKYO, Mar 24 (Pulse News Wire) – Shionogi & CO.,LTD. (4507.T) decided to fully acquire its joint venture Shionogi-Apnimed Sleep Science, LLC (SASS) through a share purchase agreement with Apnimed, Inc.
The move aims to accelerate research and development in sleep disorders, a key focus area. At a board meeting held on March 23, 2026, Shionogi agreed to buy out Apnimed's stake in SASS, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. As part of the deal, Shionogi will pay $100 million upfront upon completion of procedures and additional milestone payments tied to future developments of SASS-002 and royalties based on sales of products derived from SASS’s intellectual property.
Under the agreement, Shionogi will gain exclusive global rights to develop and commercialize SASS-001, SASS-002, and related drug programs. SASS-001 is currently undergoing Phase 2a trials targeting central sleep apnea patients, while SASS-002 shows promising results in treating obstructive sleep apnea. The acquisition is expected to have a minor impact on Shionogi's fiscal year 2026 earnings.
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