Cantargia and its partner Otsuka Pharmaceutical have closed Otsuka's acquisition of the anti-IL1RAP antibody programme CAN10 from Cantargia. Cantargia will thus receive an upfront payment of USD 33 Million.

On 15 July, 2025, Cantargia announced that an agreement had been entered regarding the acquisition of the IL1RAP antibody programme CAN10 by Otsuka. The acquisition has now been closed. Under the terms of the agreement, Cantargia will receive an upfront payment of USD 33 Million in cash. In addition, Cantargia is eligible to receive up to?USD 580 Million comprising development, regulatory and commercial milestone payments, which brings the total value up to USD 613 Million. Further, tiered royalties up to double digits on global sales are applicable. Otsuka will direct and perform all future development, apply for regulatory approvals and exclusively carry out manufacturing and commercialisation of the product worldwide.

"I am pleased that we have closed this transaction with Otsuka," said Hilde Steineger, CEO, Cantargia. "With Otsuka, CAN10 will be developed by an organisation that has the financial resources, the focus and development capabilities that CAN10 deserves. We look forward to a long and fruitful collaboration with Otsuka, and to deliver much-needed new treatments to patients."

The CAN10 antibody binds strongly to its target IL1RAP, and has a unique capability to simultaneously inhibit signaling of the cytokines of the IL1-super family via IL-1, IL-33 and IL-36. Inhibition of these signals can be of significant value in the treatment of several inflammatory or autoimmune diseases. CAN10 is currently being tested in a Clinical Phase-I study, investigating the antibody in healthy volunteers and psoriasis patients. In addition to the lead candidate, the programme includes a pre-clinical back-up IL1RAP antibody, 3G5.