Kissei licenses Linzagolix to Searchlight Pharma for Canadian market

Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced a licensing agreement with Searchlight Pharma for the development and commercialization of its GnRH antagonist, Linzagolix, in Canada. Under the agreement, Kissei will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments based on development progress, and royalties from product sales. The upfront payment has been integrated into Kissei's consolidated financial forecast for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, which was announced on May 7, 2025.

Linzagolix, an orally administered GnRH antagonist, is expected to improve symptoms of uterine fibroids and endometriosis by reducing estrogen production. In Japan, Kissei has an ongoing new drug application for uterine fibroids and is conducting a Phase III clinical trial for endometriosis.

Internationally, Theramex (UK) launched the product, branded as Yselty®, for uterine fibroids in Europe in September 2024 and secured additional approval for endometriosis from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in November 2024. Synmosa Biopharmaceuticals (Taiwan) has filed for approval in Taiwan, while JW Pharma (Korea) is developing the drug in South Korea.