Kissei Pharmaceutical licenses linzagolix to Searchlight Pharma for Canada

Kissei Pharmaceutical has entered into an agreement with Searchlight Pharma Inc. for linzagolix, an orally administered GnRH antagonist. Under the terms, Searchlight Pharma will gain exclusive rights for the development and commercialization of linzagolix in Canada. Kissei Pharmaceutical will receive an upfront payment, milestone payments based on development progress, and royalties from product sales. The upfront payment has been factored into Kissei Pharmaceutical's consolidated business performance forecast for the fiscal year ending March 2026, which was announced on May 7, 2025.

Linzagolix is a GnRH antagonist designed to reduce estrogen production by inhibiting gonadotropin secretion, offering potential improvements for symptoms of uterine fibroids and endometriosis. In Japan, Kissei Pharmaceutical currently has a manufacturing and marketing approval application under review for uterine fibroids and is conducting Phase III clinical trials for endometriosis.

Internationally, Kissei Pharmaceutical’s licensee, Theramex (UK), launched "Yselty" (linzagolix) in Europe for uterine fibroids in September 2024 and secured approval for an additional indication for endometriosis from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) in November 2024. Preparations for launch are underway in other European countries. Furthermore, applications for approval are in progress in Taiwan by Synmosa Biopharma Inc. and in South Korea by JW Pharma.